Matthew Kargol, Oskaloosa teacher fired after post in wake of Charlie Kirk shooting, dues district, Supt. Michael Fisher
An Iowa teacher who was fired after posting on social media in the wake of Charlie Kirk's shooting death is suing the school district and its superintendent.
Oskaloosa community members filled the school district's school boardroom Wednesday night as they took up now-former art teacher Matthew Kargol's termination.
In an eight-page lawsuit against the Oskaloosa Community School District and Supt. Michael Fisher, Kargol's attorneys say his post on a personal Facebook account was "rhetorical hyperbole."
The lawsuit says the post was not made in the classroom or during working hours, and it did not threaten anyone or incite imminent unlawful action and was not directed at anyone in the school community.
What came after the post, as mentioned in the lawsuit, is people contacting the district, with some demanding that Kargol be punished.
The district told KCCI on Wednesday night that it received more than 1,200 phone calls.
The lawsuit claims the district and superintendent acted not because Kargol's post disrupted the learning environment, but because they "disapproved of his protected speech."
The lawsuit alleges that Fisher's recommendation to terminate Kargol was made public. It also claims Fisher made clear that "his condemnation was rooted in his personal beliefs, not in evidence of disruption."
When KCCI spoke with Fisher on Sept. 11, he said there was a disruption.
"This has created a substantial material disruption to our learning environment the last 12 hours," Fisher said.
The district told KCCI on Wednesday night that about 8% of students were not in class after the post was made.
No one from the district could speak on camera Thursday due to this being a personnel matter and pending litigation. But a statement was shared, saying in part, "this matter was handled in accordance with applicable federal and state law and board policy" and that the district's focus is on creating safe, healthy, and kind schools.
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