An area school district and school board member are speaking out after comments made on social media – some people say- made light of suicide.
Greater Johnstown School Board President Cynthia Ahlborn allegedly wrote a post on her personal Facebook page, saying that she wondered whether a proposed 10-foot fence along the McNally Bridge would allow jumpers to perform more acrobatics on their way down.
The McNally Bridge in Richland Township is known for suicides. An online petition started last week calls for suggestions to make the bridge safer, including constructing a fence and adding signs with suicide hotline numbers and words of hope. The petition now has more than 5,000 signatures.
Ahlborn has since apologized for that post. She released a statement that reads in part, “I apologize for my post on social media last week. It was inappropriate and highly insensitive. My intention was never to be uncaring to a serious situation many people face.”
A petition calling for Ahlborn’s resignation now has more than 700 signatures. They plan to submit the petition at the next school board meeting.
The Greater Johnstown School District released a statement that reads in part, “Protecting the health and well-being of all students and residents of the Greater Johnstown Community is of the utmost importance.”
No word yet if the school district plans on taking any disciplinary action against Ahlborn.