The Union-Endicott School District is dealing with a controversy over social media posts from its current assistant superintendent and a former wrestling coach.
According to WBNG-TV, assistant superintendent Jenn Kazmark shared a post from celebrity Chrissy Tiegen which was critical of President Donald Trump.
Kazmark apologized for the post ahead of a school board meeting on Monday.
However, WBNG obtained a lawsuit filed by former varsity wrestling coach Gregory Kleinsmith, who is suing the school district, Superintendent Nicole Wolfe and Kazmark after he was fired in 2023 for politically charged Facebook posts.
The lawsuit states that Kleinsmith was called into a meeting with Kazmark and U-E attorney Randy Ray to discuss the posts on his social media account, which included a meme or cartoon involving Barack and Michelle Obama and a video of a conservative media personality on affirmative action.
According to the lawsuit, Kazmark fired Kleinsmith from the coaching position at that meeting. Ray allegedly told the former coach that as an employee of the school district he did not possess First Amendment freedom of speech rights in that circumstance.
Kleinsmith claims he has not been able to find work as a wrestling coach since his dismissal.
