A rookie member of the North Hills school board came under fire Monday night for comments she wrote about non-English speakers and new immigrants on her Facebook page.

Two women whose children attend North Hills schools complained about the comments to the board and asked board member Kathy Reid to apologize.

"If they are working in our stores THEY SHOULD SPEAK ENGLISH AT ALL TIMES!!!" Mrs. Reid wrote on Facebook.

Parents Susan Schwab and Jennifer Harris, both of Ross, said Mrs. Reid's comments made them question her commitment to supporting racial and ethnic diversity within the school district. They made their remarks at the school board's workshop meeting.

Mrs. Harris said that if Mrs. Reid does not apologize then she should be removed from the board.

"You can't remove me," Mrs. Reid replied. "I was elected." Mrs. Reid was elected to a four-year term in November.

Mrs. Reid said she thought her postings would be seen only by her Facebook friends and was distressed to find they had been circulated around the community.

"I've learned my lesson the hard way," she said. She pledged to treat all children equally when making decisions as a school board member.

Superintendent Joseph Goodnack said North Hills has a good track record in supporting diversity.

Mrs. Schwab and Mrs. Harris said they were also upset that a North Hills teacher apparently had expressed support on Facebook for Mrs. Reid's statements. They made copies of the exchange, which has been removed from Facebook.

Board President Edward Wielgus said the matter would be investigated.

In her Facebook posting, Mrs. Reid described her experience at a store where the "check out girls were foreign (one with a headscarf) and they were talking back and forth in their native language." She said her grandparents spoke Italian and German. "However, when they came they were not given free housing, jobs, unemployment, etc.," Mrs. Reid wrote. "They worked very hard for what they achieved. They learned the English language on their own from neighbors and their children."

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