HDSB blocks transfer of BK8 teacher

During their Tuesday, October 28 regular meeting, Holmes District School Board (HDSB) voted 3–2  to reject a proposal to move a Bonifay K-8 teacher to GAP Alternative School following controversial social media posts regarding the September fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. 

The teacher, who was initially placed on administrative leave, was temporarily reassigned to Ponce de Leon Elementary as an emergency action by HDSB Superintendent Buddy Brown. Pursuant to Florida Statute §1012.27, superintendents are authorized to recommend and initiate personnel transfers, including urgent or emergency moves, as long as the school board is notified and votes to approve the action. While neither Florida law nor the Holmes District School Board policy manual explicitly defines a 20-day window for approving emergency personnel transfers, district officials cited this timeline during the meeting as consistent with internal procedure.

Several members of the community were in attendance at the meeting, and spoke out against the transfer, and against the teacher’s comments.

“Principals and teachers spend more time with the kids than parents do. I truly believe they have as much or more influence on the kids as we do,” said Holmes County resident James Ray Phillips, who has three grandchildren currently in the district.

Another resident and former Holmes District superintendent, Terry Mears, also voiced opposition to the transfer.

“The victims of this are our precious children,” said Mears. “Now you’ve got to decide where you stand, because what you decide is what you’re gonna have to live with, and what you are going to have to answer for.”

The board initially moved to approve all personnel recommendations and transfers as a group, with the exception of Jason Motley’s appointment as a bus driver. Motley’s vote was separated due to his relation to board member Natalie Miller, who was required to abstain.

However, board member Derek Worley voiced concerns about the Bonifay K-8 teacher’s transfer, citing a lack of information and the need to explore alternative options.

“I’ve been told that we have one option here. I’m gonna go out on a limb right here and say that at this point and time, until I find out more [information], I cannot stand for this,” said Worley. “Take away any name right there—you can put my mama’s name or my brother’s name or whatever—but until I know everything about this that I need to know and our options, 150% back and forth, I cannot. I cannot. I have nothing against this person, this family, nobody else, but I just want to know, that I know.”

Board member Leesa Lee, who made the initial motion to approve the transfer, also weighed in, offering insight into her position on the issue. 

“I am going to vote my conscience based on the law as it’s been presented to me in my training and me reading the Florida statutes,” said Lee. 

The board then rescinded its initial motion and second approving all personnel recommendations as one and chose to vote separately on the teacher’s transfer. A separate motion approving the transfer of the teacher from Bonifay K-8 to GAP Alternative School was made and seconded, but ultimately failed to pass, with Chair Wilburn Baker, board member Worley, and board member Charley Wilson voting against it.

HDSB Attorney Matthew Fuqua advised the board to state its good cause for rejecting the recommendation for the record. Chair Baker cited insufficient notification and lack of board awareness regarding the initial emergency transfer.

“We’re in a situation that we’re voting on something that we did not make the proper first decision, but that statutorily was possible due to the position of the superintendent; he was able to do that according to his power in emergency situations,” stated Baker. “But the problem with my situation is, whether it be right or wrong according to the statute, is because I did not feel that we were properly notified of the situation with the change.”

Attorney Matthew Fuqua clarified that because the teacher’s transfer was not approved, she remains employed at Bonifay K-8. He further explained that the board had already enacted disciplinary action by suspending her without pay for five days, and therefore could not impose additional punishment.

“You disciplined her by suspending her, without pay, for 5 days; that was in discipline,” Fuqua told the board. “You can’t discipline her any further. You as a board do not have an option.”

This is one of several similar incidents that have emerged in Florida schools in recent months, as districts navigate how to address teachers’ personal social media activity. In a letter sent to all Florida superintendents in September, Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas warned that teachers who post content “celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk” could face termination or loss of certification. “Although educators have First Amendment rights, these do not extend without limit into their professional duties,” the letter stated.