Tense moments at the Johnstown School Board Meeting Tuesday night.

Parents were calling for the resignation of board president Cynthia Ahlborn.

“To know that the president of the school board makes a comment like this is just unacceptable,” parent Milissa Teeter said.

In September Ahlborn took to Facebook allegedly writing some controversial comments.

The post said she wondered whether a proposed ten foot fence along a bridge known for suicides would allow jumpers to perform more acrobatics on their way down.

“How insensitive, how stupid, how cruel,” Robin Kmetz, who has grandkids in the school district, said. “Oh and by the way shouldn’t you know better because you’re the president of the board and we hold you to a higher standard.” 

“The fact that nothing is being done makes me wonder how the rest of the school board feels about this issue,” Theresa Smith, who is running for school board, said.  

Johanna Boratko’s son tried to commit suicide so the comments hit too close to home for her. That’s why she started a petition for Ahlborn to resign. It now has nearly 1,200 signatures.

“The more we speak about it something has to be changed,” she said. “This can not go on this is not a joking matter. I almost lost my son.” 

The ones most upset wouldn’t get the answers they had hoped for. 

Ahlborn’s name plate was at the meeting, but she was not. The board mentioned she was dealing with a family illness.

School leaders released a statement and said the district recognizes suicide prevention is a serious responsibility and protecting the health and well-being of all students is of the utmost importance.

Ahlborn’s only response so far was an apology telling the public her comments were inappropriate and insensitive. However parents said that’s just not enough.

“We need her gone because this is not a joking matter,” Boratko said. “No one is laughing.”

“She needs to stand down,” Smith mentioned. “She needs to resign and the school board needs to take this far more seriously.” 

The school district has not made any comments about taking disciplinary action against Ahlborn. 

Meanwhile a lawsuit has been filed so if she doesn’t resign parents plan to take this to court.