The DeSoto County School Board has ousted Michele Henley from her position as board chair after a controversy involving her letter associated with a convicted child sex offender, Action News 5 reports. Henley, although removed as chair, will still hold her seat on the board.
Henley's missive to a judge, perceived as supportive of Lindsey Whiteside, a former youth pastor and basketball coach who pled guilty to sexual battery on a child, stirred public outrage and prompted the district attorney to assert that the letter may have influenced a lighter sentence than the prosecution sought. Whiteside, initially sentenced to three years of house arrest and seven years of probation, was later indicted on federal charges, according to Local Memphis. Despite the backlash, Henley has stated her refusal to resign.
DA Matthew Barton, among others, called for Henley's immediate resignation over her action. “All throughout scripture it says that we are to protect the vulnerable," the victim's grandmother said, per FOX13 Memphis, expressing the sentiment of those gravely disappointed by Henley's stance. Calls for her resignation were also echoed by concerned parents and relatives of Whiteside's victim.
Jerald Wheeler has since been voted in as the new chair of the DeSoto County School Board during a recent meeting, following a swap of seats between Henley and Wheeler, which signified the change in leadership. Despite the critical voices and her diminished role, Henley has so far maintained her membership on the board, according to Local Memphis. Meanwhile, the community's trust in the board remains shaken, and calls for larger accountability persist.
The school board issued a statement, reiterating their commitment to the well-being of students and their condemnation of any support for those harming children, as per details from Action News 5. Henley contends her letter was never meant as an endorsement of Whiteside's actions but was merely a description of a personal interaction. However, the damage to public perception may have already been done, with some parents expressing that they will not relent until there is a complete removal of anyone who supported Whiteside. For now, no recall or removal process is available for board members, leaving the decision to step down at Henley's discretion.
