OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — An outspoken Osceola County School Board member is under fire for storming out of school board meetings nearly a dozen times, including one on Wednesday night.
Jay Wheeler walked out of Wednesday night's meeting when he was confronted about his behavior.
WFTV spoke to the School Board Chairwoman Cindy Hartig and she said she wants him off the board.
Cindy Hartig called Wheeler a distraction to education.
"I think the only person that is dysfunctional and has an issue is Mr. Wheeler himself," said Hartig. "Hopefully one day he will look in the mirror and see that."
"Over the last several months, Mr. Wheeler stands up and departs, without explanation, when the chair speaks," said Tom Long, of the Osceola County School Board.
Members claim he's left 11 meetings in the last year, and he's missed five.
On Wednesday night, the board voted to draft paperwork to publicly reprimand Wheeler for abandonment of position, disregarding school board policies and conduct unbecoming of an elected official.
Wheeler wasn't happy.
"I will continue to disrespect all four of you. I think all four of you are incompetent," said Wheeler.
Then, he got into a screaming match with Hartig.
"You want to censor anybody who says something you don't like," said Wheeler.
"I think very much he is in need of attention. This is his way to get it," said Hartig.
After the discussion Wednesday night, Wheeler again left.
The school district's attorney must now draft paperwork on the public reprimand, and then the board will vote on it.
But, only the governor can remove him from the board.
WFTV reached out to Wheeler, but he was unable to talk with WFTV before the story posted.
WFTV
