Controversial Columbia Heights Board Member Decides To Resign
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Columbia Heights school board member accused of posting anti-Muslim comments on social media has decided to resign, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) announced Monday.
According to CAIR-MN, Grant Nichols expressed his desire to resign from the school board following a meeting with the group, Muslim community leaders and local elected officials. He is expected to resign effective Tuesday, Oct. 13.
At the meeting, CAIR-MN said Nichols apologized for a comment disparaging Muslims posted on his Facebook page.
"We welcome Mr. Nichols' apology and resignation from the school board and wish him well in his future endeavors," CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said. "Now is the time for the community to come together to heal and to promote an environment leading to educational success and achievement."
According to Rep. Carolyn Laine from Columbia Heights, the meeting was very productive and Nichols was very respectful of everything that was said. She said that Nichols admitted that he could no longer be an effective school board member.
Related: School Board Member At Center Of Anti-Islamic Controversy Won't Step Down
Early Monday afternoon, Columbia Heights Public Schools responded to the news with a statement:
"The District has not received a Letter of Resignation from Member Grant Nichols. Member Nichols met with Superintendent of Schools Kathy Kelly the morning of Monday, October 12, 2015 and at that time he indicated his intention to resign from the Columbia Heights School Board at the completion of the Tuesday, October 13, 2015 Regular School Board meeting. Member Nichols indicated that he would not turn in a Letter of Resignation to the School District until after his October 13, 2015 Press Conference, but would do so before the start of the October 13, 2015 Regular School Board meeting. With this information in mind, Member Nichols' resignation has been tentatively placed on the October 13, 2015 School Board Regular agenda as an action item. The District is not prepared to comment further until Member Nichols' Letter of Resignation has been received and addressed as an action item at the October 13, 2015 School Board meeting."
Nichols and community leaders are expected to address the resignation early Tuesday evening, with a press conference expected at 6 p.m. outside the Columbia Heights School District offices.
