Growing calls for state school board member Natalie Cline to resign after she targeted high school athlete

State lawmakers are looking at “all options” to respond to Republican State School Board member Natalie Cline’s social media post that targeted a female high school student athlete.

Some of the options could include impeachment, an ethics investigation or possibly addressing her conduct through a state cyberbullying statute.

“I think it’s really important that (board member) Natalie Cline makes good decisions herself. We’ve seen issues like this happen and even in our body. I think it’s really, really important that elected officials who were duly elected make good decisions. What she did was reprehensible and we condemn it very strongly, as much as we possibly can,” Senate President J. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said Thursday during the Utah Senate leaders’ daily briefing with reporters.

Asked whether Cline should resign, Adams said “That’s up to her. I think when you think about this, no one should put anyone else’s kids pictures on Facebook, no matter what the issue. That’s just not a good thing,” he said.

Other Senate leaders agreed that Cline should decide whether to resign, although Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said, “Yes. I mean that would be very helpful if she resigns immediately and that would alleviate a lot of things.”

Escamilla said Senate Democrats are consulting with legal counsel to better understand the Utah Legislature’s options.

Members of the Utah State Board of Education meet at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Utah State Board of Education issued a statement on Thursday that said it “condemns the actions taken by board member Natalie Cline on her recent Facebook post directed toward a female high school student athlete in Utah.”

It continued, “Board leadership is very concerned about this post and the harm it has caused to students and families in Utah. We are deeply saddened by the events that have taken place and will be taking prompt action regarding this matter as determined by the full board.”

The statement acknowledges that the elected Utah State Board of Education has no power or authority to unseat an elected official. “If the full board determines discipline is warranted, Board Bylaws provide guidelines for additional action,” according to the statement.

The statement comes after Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson called on the state school board “to hold Cline accountable.”

The board met at the Capitol Thursday afternoon as it does regularly during the legislative session. Cline did not attend in person nor did she participate electronically.

The board stuck to its posted agenda, which was largely about funding and policy issues under consideration by the Utah Legislature.

Other than issuing a statement, the board took no further action nor did they discuss the matter. Board Chairman James Moss declined to comment on whether Cline had resigned, if the board had asked her to resign or if the board was scheduling a future meeting to discuss the issues.

Jennie Earl and James Moss, board members of the Utah State Board of Education, confer during a scheduled meeting at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

The board has a process outlined in its policies and bylaws and “I’m going to let the process run,” Moss said.

The bylaws state in part, “While members have the right to freedom of expression, members shall respect the privacy of students, USBE employees, LEA employees, and school level employees, including refraining from direct and indirect identification of such, in a negative light in any public setting, venue, or platform where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.”

Earlier in the day, the Utah House Democratic Caucus called for Cline’s immediate resignation after social media posts that targeted a high school student athlete.

“Natalie Cline’s unconscionable online accusations have repeatedly endangered the safety of students and educators, warranting consequences beyond reprimand. Apologies are insufficient. Cline’s repeated misconduct highlights her unsuitability for the role of Utah school board member, necessitating her immediate resignation to prevent further harm to our students,” the caucus said in a statement Thursday.

Senate Democrats likewise called for Cline’s immediate resignation.

“We express our utter outrage and condemnation regarding the reprehensible actions of Natalie Cline, a member of the Utah State Board of Education. Ms. Cline’s actions, characterized by the intentional mockery and defamation of a minor student, represent a flagrant violation of the ethical standards, policies, and trust placed in her as a public official. We call for her immediate resignation,” their statement read.

Other elected officials and leaders of Utah civil rights organizations have called for Cline to step down.

Cline’s now-deleted post depicted members of a girls basketball team with the heading “Girls basketball…,” which community organizer Darlene McDonald said “was to imply that one of the players is not a ‘girl.’”

Cline responded late Wednesday with a statement on social media that said in part, “My original post (now deleted) never claimed the student was a boy.” In the statement, she apologized to the girl and her parents.

Utah State Board of Education member Natalie Cline.

Utah State Board of Education

Attempts to call her cellphone on Thursday were unsuccessful because the mailbox was full, according to an outgoing message.

Cline is up for reelection and faces a Republican challenger, Amanda Bollinger, and Democrat Will Shiflett.

Shiflett, in a statement issued Thursday, called on voters in the board district to “join me in voting out Ms. Cline this November.”

The statement said in part, “Board member Cline’s public questioning of a student athlete’s physical traits is yet another in her embarrassingly long history of divisive language and blatant harassment of innocent individuals. It is unconscionable that Ms. Cline chose to direct any of her energy against a high school student simply because that individual looked differently to her.

“It is unacceptable for us to allow Ms. Cline to remain in a position where she may continue to harm our children, waste limited education resources, and cause unnecessary divisions within our community.”

Bollinger issued a statement on Wednesday that said in part, “I would invite all District 9 and Utah constituents to join my campaign to elevate the conversations about education and work together to support and uplift all students in Utah.”

Utah State Board of Education member Natalie Cline did not attend a scheduled board meeting at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. The board’s leadership issued a statement on Thursday that said it “condemns the actions taken by board member Natalie Cline on her recent Facebook post directed toward a female high school student athlete in Utah.”

Laura Seitz, Deseret News