A Nitro High teacher allegedly tweeted #BANISLAM earlier this month, followed by this: "imagine how much more peaceful the Middle East, and the entire world would b [sic] with no Muslims."
Sheri Sapp, a Spanish teacher at the Kanawha County public school, hasn't responded to the Gazette-Mail's requests for comment about her messages on Twitter, a social media website.
She allegedly tweeted that statement on April 3, according to screenshots of the tweet that have been shared in other tweets by people criticizing her comment. The account that she allegedly tweeted from is no longer online.
Nitro High Principal Jason Redman referred a reporter's questions to Briana Warner, the Kanawha school system's communications director.
"We are aware of the situation with Ms. Sapp and as this is a personnel matter, it is being handled internally," Warner wrote in an emailed response to questions Thursday. "We cannot disclose any action that has or has not been taken regarding employment. All County policies are taken into account when considering personnel matters like this one."
In response to further questions about whether school officials have confirmed Sapp wrote that tweet and about whether an investigation is being done, Warner wrote: "Kanawha County Schools was made aware of the situation. We've looked into the matter. Other than that, it's a personnel matter that we're not discussing further."
Public school board votes are required for more serious forms of employee discipline, including suspensions exceeding 30 days and firings.
The school system adopted a new "social media policy" in January.
"All Users [sic] activity that falls within this Policy is subject to all other policies and regulations, rules and procedures," the social media policy states, "including, but not limited to, Policies C53 - Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation, [and] G50A - Racial, Religious, and Ethnic Harassment and Violence."
According to a February Nitro High newsletter, Sapp has been teaching for 24 years, nine of them at Nitro.
Reach Ryan Quinn at ryan.quinn@wvgazettemail.com, facebook.com/ryanedwinquinn, 304-348-1254 or follow @RyanEQuinn on Twitter.