An Ohio school board member gave a Nazi salute and shouted “sieg heil” to the president of the board after he refused to respond to her interruption.
Anne Zakkour — a Tipp City Schools board member who has faced controversies in the past and calls for her impeachment for “inappropriate behavior” — tried to interfere with Simon Patry.
“I’m talking, don’t interrupt me, don’t make a sound, or I won’t tolerate it,” noted Patry, a local attorney.
Zakkour then gave the infamous salute, saying “sieg heil” in an attempt to compare Patry to a Nazi.
Patry then immediately resigned and recommended the vice president of his board, Amber Drum, to replace him without any explanation.
A member of a suburban Ohio school board gave a Nazi salute and shouted “sieg heil” to the board chairman after he refused to respond to her interruption during a meeting
He later said his tenure was due to expire in a few months and he wanted to spend more time with his family, though he condemned Zakkour in an interview the next day.
“I don’t know why anyone would use that despicable word and gesture,” he said.
“Coming in was the moment I felt there was a good chance I could do it today or yesterday,” he said, referring to his choice to step down.
Zakkour defended her actions. ‘Mr. Patry has been acting like a dictator on our board for years and last night I had enough of his demands of total obedience,” Zakkour said. WKEF.
“My response last night was symbolic and a sarcastic gesture of submission to a government official acting as a dictator. Enough is enough.’
“What happened yesterday was the culmination of four years of harassment, bullying and misrepresentation…” she added.
Patry’s response to questions about his behavior was that he was surprised anyone was watching the meetings, but know that if they do, “they’ll know that’s not true.”
Anne Zakkour — a Tipp City Schools board member who has faced controversies in the past and calls for her impeachment for “inappropriate behavior” — tried to intervene when President Simon Patry became upset
Zakkour then made the infamous salute saying “sieg heil” in an attempt to compare Patry to a Nazi
The remaining members of the board were divided over the gesture, with Richard Main showing frustration at Patry stepping down.
“We lost a really good board member last night because he left our school,” Mains said. “Simon is a very good person and he has done a lot for our schools.”
Theresa Dunaway, who was charged with inappropriate behavior alongside Zakkour earlier this year, was furious that no one defended Zakkour.
“This is abusive behavior,” she said. “Why did the superintendent and two other board members sit there in silence while he berated her? No one should be treated like this, his body language was terrible, his head in his hands, the loud sighing.
“This has been going on for four years and she’s had enough, who can blame her?”
Zakkour and Dunaway were charged with “willful failure to uphold the law and perform their duties,” as well as “abuse and/or nonconfession in office” and abuse of power in the lawsuit.
The pair refused to resign and the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed, the newspaper said Dayton daily news.
Drum, Patry’s future successor, denounced Zakkour’s behaviour.
Patry then immediately resigned and recommended the vice president of his board, Amber Drum, to replace him without any explanation
Patry later said his term was due to expire in a few months and he wanted to spend more time with his family, though he condemned Zakkour in an interview the following day.
“At Tipp City Schools, our district motto is ‘Where excellence is a tradition’ and we ask those in our district to follow the three pillars ‘Be respectful, be responsible and have integrity,’ she said.
Those expectations were not met by Ms. Zakkour’s actions at last night’s board meeting. I was not aware of the Salute being given until I went back to watch the meeting. Her actions were of her own accord and in no way reflect my beliefs as a board member. I am shocked by her lack of professionalism.’
She said she thought Patry was a decent man and not someone who was guilty of the behavior Zakkour accused him of.
“With regard to the comments Ms. Zakkour made regarding Mr. Patry, I find Mr. Patry to be a very kind, helpful and respectful member of the Board of Directors. I never felt bullied by him or felt inferior to what he said to me.’
Tipp City Schools have not commented on the matter.