Nearly a month after an incident at a high school graduation ceremony, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education publicly shared its support of the district’s superintendent and denounced attacks against her character.
Staff, students and family members of CHCCS received a message on Wednesday written by chair of the school board Rani Dasi, which detailed “ongoing personal attacks” against Superintendent Nyah Hamlett and school officials by a local student and parent. Dasi, on behalf of the other board members, strongly criticized a “demonstrated pattern of rudeness, obnoxiousness and ominous language” used both on social media and in-person toward district leaders.
The alert to the school community comes after a report shared by the News & Observer that detailed how a court granted Hamlett a temporary court order against Hunter and Kevin Klosty — a recent East Chapel Hill High School graduate and his father — from contacting her, posting about her, or showing up to CHCCS campuses. The newspaper’s story details how the Klostys regularly commented on their personal pages and CHCCS social media posts about Hamlett and district policies they do not agree with. The father-son duo’s criticism escalated earlier in 2023, when Hamlett came under fire from a separate News & Observer report that examined whether her doctoral dissertation was plagiarized.
The Klostys’ actions came to a peak at the East Chapel Hill High School graduation ceremony on June 10. In video of the event, Hunter Klosty is seen talking with district officials before walking onto the stage to receive his diploma. After a photo with the school’s principal, Jesse Casey, Klosty is seen saying something to him before walking away. Casey is then distracted for the next few students, looking off-stage in the direction Klosty walked. According to the News & Observer, the graduating senior swore at several officials and called Casey “a stupid man” before walking over to the superintendent. The report said Klosty pointed his finger toward Hamlett’s face and used profanity before being ushered along by Dasi and district staff. Klosty’s father then approached Hamlett after the ceremony and had to be separated — which was also discussed in the court documents Hamlett filed.
Hunter Klosty (center) makes a comment to East Chapel Hill High School Principal Jesse Casey during a June 9 graduation ceremony. (Photo via CHCCS.)
Nyah Hamlett, the superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. (Photo via CHCCS.)
Dasi’s message on Wednesday did not name the family nor school, but linked to the N&O’s story and detailed what happened during the graduation ceremony last month. She also shared how the Klostys had shared attacks of district policies and against Hamlett in emails and at Board of Education meetings. About their behavior, the school board chair wrote:
“The Board emphatically denounces these and any behaviors which create a hostile environment and negatively impact the safety of our school community. The CHCCS Board has always provided many avenues for parents and students to express their opinions and provide criticism, including periods for public comment at each Board meeting. But the Board will not tolerate personal attacks, obscenities or abuse directed toward our staff. Moving forward, we encourage all staff to report any form of abuse to school and district administration immediately. We will continue to take any reasonable and necessary action to maintain the safety of our superintendent, all staff and students.”
Dasi wrote that while the national climate continues to feature divisiveness and anxiety, she and the school board want to continue highlighting the good work happening within the CHCCS district — including efforts through Hamlett’s leadership.
“Dr. Hamlett consistently reminds us to avoid letting adult issues interfere with our work for students,” she wrote. “The CHCCS Board of Education continues to be grateful for her thoughtful leadership and her courage throughout this year.”
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