SouthernWorldwide.com – A member of the Deer Valley Unified School District Governing Board in Arizona is facing significant backlash, including calls for her resignation, after allegedly making a Nazi salute and comparing the board president to a dictator during a recent public meeting.
Video footage from the May 26th meeting appears to capture board member Kimberly Fisher raising her right arm in a gesture resembling a Nazi salute while exclaiming “Heil, heil.” This incident occurred amidst a heated dispute with board President Paul Carver Jr. over the scheduling of a community study session concerning district boundary discussions.
Fisher reportedly voiced her objection to holding the study session in the afternoon, citing potential difficulties for community members to attend. She emphasized that the purpose of such sessions is to gather community input and facilitate discussions.
Following Fisher’s remarks and gesture, Carver initiated a motion to adjourn the meeting. He explained that the discussion had veered into an item not present on the official agenda, which could potentially violate Arizona’s Open Meeting Law. Carver later elaborated in a Facebook video that his decision to adjourn was solely to adhere to state regulations.
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Carver stated that Fisher made the gesture and accompanying comments after the adjournment motion was made. He addressed the claims that her actions were justified due to his perceived dictatorial behavior, asserting that he was merely following state rules. Carver unequivocally condemned such gestures and statements in any setting, deeming them unacceptable.
The incident drew immediate condemnation from district officials. The Deer Valley Unified School District issued a statement clarifying that Fisher’s actions were her own and did not represent the views or stance of the district. The statement emphasized that the district does not endorse any form of hate, discrimination, intimidation, or violence, and that Fisher’s conduct was inconsistent with the district’s mission and vision.
The district further specified that Fisher’s “views and actions do not reflect and should not be attributed to other board members, staff, other members of the school community or the District.”
The Deer Valley Educators Association also voiced strong disapproval of Fisher’s behavior and joined in the calls for her resignation. Association president Kelley Fisher described the incident as “horrifying and disgusted” and stated that any leader using a Nazi salute in a school board meeting is “unfit for public service.” The association asserted that there is no justification for such conduct and urged Fisher to resign to prevent further harm to students and the community.
In a Facebook livestream posted hours after the meeting, Fisher doubled down on her criticism of Carver, describing his leadership style as dictatorial. She claimed that the board had been operating under a “dictatorship for a long time” and accused Carver of acting like a dictator, urging voters to oppose him in future elections.
Towards the end of the livestream, Fisher appeared to draw parallels between her sentiments during the meeting and historical dictators. She mentioned Pol Pot as an egregious example and stated, “All I could think of tonight was Hitler.” Fisher did not, however, directly address the Nazi salute or the specific comment made during the board meeting in this livestream.
In a separate video shared on social media, Carver addressed community inquiries about the board’s ability to take action against Fisher. He explained that under Arizona law, school boards have limited authority to discipline elected board members. Carver characterized Fisher’s behavior as “rampant and repetitive,” deeming it “totally unacceptable and unprofessional.”
The Deer Valley Unified School District serves over 33,000 students across northern Maricopa County, encompassing communities such as north Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Cave Creek, and New River.
