WS/FC School Board Responds To Racially Offensive Text Sent By Member

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board member Lori Goins Clark resigned from her position on the school board late last month citing personal and family reasons. 

The school board made a statement Tuesday on Clark's departure, acknowledging that she sent a single text to another board member and former interim superintendent Kenneth Simington, who is black. The board says "The message was inappropriate and offensive to the two people that received it.”

The Winston-Salem Journal reports the text made a reference to the Bill Cosby show character Mushmouth who had large lips and spoke inarticulately.

District spokesman Brent Campbell says he can't comment on personnel or potential legal issues. He says the board will focus on filling the vacant seat.

“The board decided to use the appointment process,” he says. “They will have to fill the seat with the person of that same party, but they can do it pretty much however they want. The policy isn't specific and state law isn't specific as to how they do that.”

Clark is a Republican who has served on the school board since 2014. She did not respond to requests from WFDD by this story's deadline.

Clark told the Winston-Salem Journal last week she apologized for what she calls a "personal and relational" mistake which has been misunderstood.