Big Walnut School Board censures member over 'inflammatory' social media posts

SUNBURY, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Big Walnut school board voted 4-0 Monday night to censure member Zach Duffey over alleged misconduct surrounding an online fundraising campaign and "inflammatory" social media posts regarding his son's alleged behavior.

Duffey was not in attendance at the meeting.

A censure is a formal reprimand, but does not remove him from the board.

The board took issue with Duffey's conduct relating to an "unauthorized online crowdfunding campaign to benefit a classroom," and a post he made on social media about disciplinary action taken against his son -- a post which has since been deleted.

"The Board further censures and reprimands Board Member Duffey for operating a 'Zach Duffey, Big Walnut Local School Board Member' social media page that uses the District logo to make inflammatory, reckless, and untrue statements," the resolution reads. "This includes a recently created and recently deleted post about a personal matter that related to school processes and operations."

According to Action for Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization that advocates for education, it's believed to be the first time in the district's 75-year history that an official reprimand was issued for one of its members.

Duffey's social media post in question criticized the district for how it handled disciplinary action against his son, who was accused of "illicit recording and distribution of explicit content involving an unsuspecting student," according to Action for Tomorrow.

In his deleted post, which was screenshotted and shared by Action for Tomorrow, Duffey questioned why his son received the maximum punishment for what he described as a "silly" video. Action for Tomorrow said Duffey's son did not receive the maximum punishment.

Duffey said in the post that his son reached his phone over a bathroom stall and recorded a video of his friend using the restroom, which was then shared with others. He then criticized the school for making the situation "public."

"The District has not commented on any specific student disciplinary matter, per Superintendent McLane. It was Duffey himself who made the situation public by referencing the incident on a social media page he represents as government-affiliated," Action for Tomorrow wrote in a Board Accountability Notice.

The censure resolution states that Duffey violated the board's code of ethics surrounding conflicts of interest and using his position to benefit certain individuals.

"The Board further denounces and repudiates such misconduct for being reckless in its language, which, if unaddressed, will erode public faith and confidence in the Board, the Administrators, and the District," the resolution reads.

Action for Tomorrow called Duffey a hypocrite for campaigning on claims that Big Walnut teachers were showing pornography to children and now defending his son who was accused of sharing explicit material.

In a statement, Duffey said that he is committed to working with the board to put students and families first.

"School board meetings are funded by taxpayers to advance academic achievement, ensure fiscal responsibility, and prioritize student safety," Duffey said. "Our agendas need to be laser-focused on actionable plans that drive success in these three areas. These are the responsibilities we were elected to uphold, and I remain committed to working with my fellow board members to put Big Walnut students and families first."