Parents Still Fighting To Remove Humphreys From School Board

• Emily Wendler
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  Emily Wendler joined KOSU in February 2015, following graduate school at the University of Montana. While studying Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism with an emphasis on agriculture, a professor introduced her to radio and she fell in love. The Cincinnati native has since reported for KBGA, University of Montana’s college radio station, and Montana’s PBS Newsbrief. She was a finalist in a national in-depth radio reporting competition for an investigatory piece she produced on campus rape. She also produced in-depth reports on wind energy and local food for Montana Public Radio. Since moving to Oklahoma, Emily's work has won many awards and has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Emily Wendler / StateImpact Oklahoma

John Rex Elementary in downtown Oklahoma City.

A group of about 20 parents asked Oklahoma City Public School Board members on Monday to kick former OKC Mayor Kirk Humphreys off the board of a local charter school.

Humphreys recently equated homosexuality to pedophilia while on a Sunday morning talk show, and many John Rex Charter School parents feel his comments were homophobic, and disqualify him from serving on the charter’s board of directors.

Jaricha Scales says his words go directly against the charter school’s creed her children are supposed to follow.

“How can we hold our students accountable, and not our board members?,” Scales asked during public comment.

Spokesperson for OKCPS, Beth Harrison, says while the district does authorize the charter contract for John Rex, its board has very little influence over whether Humphreys stays or goes. Harrison says that decision would be up to the John Rex Board of Directors.

Carrie Jacobs, who is on John Rex’s Board, says discussions are ongoing about what, if anything, should happen.