BEDFORD, Mich. — A Change.org petition has collected over 3,000 signatures as of Monday night with people asking for Bedford Twp. School Board Member Todd Bruning to step down for racist, sexist and homophobic posts on Facebook.
"Well, I could care less, it wouldn't bother me one way or the other. It's not like a school board position is a high paying job or anything like that," Bedford School Board Member Todd Bruning said.
That's how he says he would feel if people in Bedford Twp. recalled him from his position on the school board.
Bruning's under fire for posts on his social media page. Posts include pictures with comments about black children or burning down a mosque. WTOL asked him how he felt about students potentially reading these posts.
"They get so butthurt over memes that are a joke, Jesus, wait until they get out into the real world and see how life is," Bruning said.
"Once elected to office, it's not up to the board office or a board colleague to take any action in regards to removing that individual," Bedford Schools Superintendent, Dr. Carl Schultz, said.
Now, a Change.org campaign has over 3,000 signatures asking Governor Gretchen Whitmer to remove Bruning from his elected position.
"How it has been tolerated for so long, I don't know, I don't know why the community hasn't gotten involved. I think people have gotten scared, they've gotten intimidated," petition organizer Stephanie McLain said.
Bruning said he's willing to talk to anyone regardless of race creed, color or religion.
He shared his thoughts in an interview with WTOL.
"Do you feel with those memes, people would feel comfortable sitting down and talking to you?" WTOL reporter Emma Henderson asked Bruning.
"That's on them, it's not on me, all they have to do is come in," Bruning said.
Bruning is also up for election to be a township trustee this fall. His Facebook page is currently set to private.
Superintendent Schultz released this statement following the petition, in regards to how board members function and their roles as well as process for removal:
Bedford Public Schools Public Statement Regarding Board Member Election and Function
June 5, 2020
The 7 Members of the Bedford Public Schools Board of Education are elected by the School District’s local constituents. The Bedford Public Schools’ Board of Education is responsible for the governance of the School District and are not paid employees of the district. The role of district governance includes authorizing financial decisions, maintaining district governing policies, and selecting a School Superintendent. The School District’s Superintendent is hired by the Board to run the day-to-day operations and to implement Policies adopted by the Board. The Board Members terms are established by statute, and neither the Board nor the Superintendent has the authority to remove a Board Member from the Board of Education.
Board Members may only be removed pursuant to applicable provisions in the law. Section 1107 of the Revised School Code states that the Governor may remove a school board member. The Governor can only remove a school board member if the governor is satisfied from the evidence submitted to the governor that the member is guilty of gross neglect of duty, corrupt conduct in office, or any other misfeasance or malfeasance in office. In addition, the Michigan Constitution provides procedures for the public to recall a school board member. There is nothing in the law that provides procedures for a school board itself, or any employee of the school board, to remove a board member.
Bedford Public School Board members only speak on behalf of the District through formal action at public School Board meetings. The Board President and the Superintendent are the only designated spokespersons for the Board. Individual Board Members maintain their First Amendment Rights to speak on matters in their individual capacity and do not speak on behalf of the Board. In addition, as elected representatives are not subject to district disciplinary polices. The Bedford Public Schools Board of Education does not endorse any statements made by individual Board Members.
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