NHCS officials condemn inflammatory online comment by school board attorney
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Board of Education and the district superintendent are responding after an attorney who represents the school district posted an inflammatory comment on social media.
The comment was made by Brian Kromke, an attorney with Crossley McIntosh Collier Hanley & Edes. Kromp posted a comment under a Facebook post from former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper addressing recent shootings in Minnesota. Cooper’s post condemned the violence and emphasized that American citizens should not be targeted or killed.
In response, Kromke posted a meme that said he was “marked safe from being shot by ice because I’m not f****** retarded”, a remark that several community members criticized as insensitive. Screenshots of the comment were later shared publicly on Facebook by NHC Educational Justice.
Within that same Facebook group, Kromke said he deleted the insensitive post.
“I am sorry that I offended anyone, that was not my intention,” he wrote.
WWAY reached out to New Hanover County Schools for a response. In a statement, the New Hanover County Board of Education said it was aware of the situation.
“The New Hanover County Board of Education is aware of concerns related to a recent comment made by one of the Board’s attorneys. The language used was inappropriate and does not meet the standards of professionalism and respect that this Board expects from anyone representing or working on behalf of the Board of Education or the district,” School Board Chair Pete Wildeboer wrote in a statement.
The board added that while it could not comment on personnel matters, the issue is being addressed.
“Words matter, particularly in public service. As a Board, we are committed to maintaining a culture of respect, personal responsibility, and professionalism,” the statement continued. “The Board does not condone the language that was used.”
New Hanover County Schools Superintendent also issued a separate statement addressing the incident.
“As Superintendent, I want to address a matter of concern that has been brought to my attention. A recent comment made by the Board of Education’s attorney was inappropriate and hurtful,” the statement said. “I recognize the impact that language can have, and I want to be clear that I expect the highest standards of professionalism and respect from all who work with our district.”
The superintendent said confidentiality obligations limit what can be shared publicly but emphasized the district’s values.
“Unequivocally, I do not condone the language used,” the statement said. “The views expressed in that comment do not reflect the values of New Hanover County Schools, the staff, or me as superintendent.”
