Could a local school board official be in some hot water over a post on his social media page? The post, naming Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was considered a threat and is part of a secret service investigation.
Tim Atherton, Vice President of the West Carroll District #314, was at the regular board meeting Wednesday night, though he is the focus of an investigation. KWQC confirmed through the Carroll County Sheriff's Department that the agency received a call this week from someone wanting to report a post on Atherton's personal social media page. The official did not say exactly what the post read, but the department considered it threatening in nature and that it was against Mitt Romney. That's when officials contacted the secret service and handed things over to them.
Wednesday night at the board meeting there was no discussion, only a statement read by school board president Mike Highland. He says board members have received numerous calls, and complaints, some demanding removal from the school board position.
"The actions of this past week are the responsibility of those individuals not acting as representative of the West Carroll school district," said Highland. "Actions of individual members of the board that do not represent the public interest in education, nor support acceptable standards of the Illinois association of school boards oath of office, is not condoned by this board."
Highland also went on to say that Illinois school code does not grant the authority to local school boards to discipline or remove a school board member since it is an elected position.
Atherton did not want to go on camera, but tells KWQC he plans to issue a statement in the near future.
