UPDATE: Malvern School District said teacher Trent Bennett, accused of referring to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys, has resigned. 
 
 According to the school's Facebook page, the board called a special board meeting Thursday. At the meeting, board members voted 6-0 to accept Trent Bennett's resignation, which became effective immediately. 
 
 Bennett sent the following apology letter to news outlets: 
 
 I would like to issue an apology for the outrage and hurt feelings caused by these comments. I acknowledge that they were disrespectful and offensive. I am aware of the impact this has had, and though I negate that I have ever conducted myself in a less than professional manner in regard to my students, I have resigned my teaching position at Malvern High School. I have also removed my social media presence to prevent any future issues. I am unavailable for further statements or interviews, and humbly ask for everyone to respect the privacy of my family, friends, and former colleagues. 
 
 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 
 
 Trent Bennett 
 
 MALVERN, Ark -- Racist comments on social media have some calling for the resignation of a Central Arkansas teacher.. 
 
 The Facebook posts were allegedly written by Malvern High School teacher, Trent Bennett. The comments target President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and have Tabitha Hughes upset. 
 
 "We've never had this problem before," said Hughes."I guess that's why it's disturbing to us." 
 
 She graduated from the MHS in 1991 and said she cannot recall anything like this ever happening during her time there. 
 
 "We want something done about it," said Hughes. 
 
 The post calls the First Lady 'Michelle Obummer ... America's First Chimp.' 
 
 "When he put that on Facebook, boldly, that was very disturbing," said Hughes. 
 
 When called out about his comments, Bennett referred to Mrs. Obama as 'a nasty chimp' and to President Obama as a 'spider monkey.' 
 
 "Honestly, I don't think he needs to be teaching," said Hughes. 
 
 We went by Bennett's house Tuesday, but only a barking dog responded. 
 
 The Malvern School District posted on its Facebook page ... calling the comments 'inappropriate,' 'insensitive' and 'in now way are the posts reflective of the district.' Adding, the district is investigating. 
 
 "January 9th when they open back up, he don't need to be in class," said Hughes. 
 
 Hughes said her thoughts are now on her niece and nephew, who have Bennett as a teacher. 
 
 "A lot of kids read that. It's very heartbreaking that they are having to go into that school and feel a certain type of way now," said Hughes. 
 
 The President of the Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP sent Bennett an email: 
 
 Dear Mr. Bennett: 
 
 I'm Rizelle Aaron, President of the Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP. This email is in reference to you(r) alleged racially charged comments directed to our President Barack Obama and our First Lady Michelle Obama. As a disabled Marine Corps and Army Veteran I find it very disheartening that an educator such as yourself that is charged with molding the minds of our future leaders of this great country of different ethnicities, backgrounds and cultures would make such racially charged comments about our Commander in Chief and his wife. 
 
 There is no place in an educational system for someone in a public position of authority that is willing to publicly make the comments that you are alleged to have made. If In fact you have made these racially charged comments, I respectfully request your immediate resignation from the Malvern Public School District. If you're not responsible for the racially charged comments you may disregard this message and accept my humble apology. 
 
 As in the Blevins Public School District we will do everything legally possible with all available resources to see that you are terminated or at the least resign due to you(r) actions, including rally and protest at School Board Meetings and other areas in your community. 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 Rizelle Aaron 
 
 President 
 
 AR State Conference of the NAACP ||||| An Arkansas high school teacher has been accused of making racist remarks about President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Facebook. 
 
 Trent Bennett, a science teacher at Malvern High School, allegedly called Obama a “spider monkey,” and referred to Michelle Obama as the “first chimp,” according to KATV, an ABC affiliate that cited screen shots of the Facebook posts. 
 
 “Michelle Obummer … America’s First Chimp,” Bennett allegedly wrote in a post that is no longer visible. 
 
 The Malvern School District said it was investigating Bennett regarding the posts. 
 
 “Over the Holiday weekend the District became aware of what appears to be a social media post by a district employee on his personal account that was inappropriate, insensitive, and used racially charged rhetoric,” the district said in a Facebook statement. “In no way are these posts reflective of the District. The District is currently investigating the matter and due to privacy laws and regulations are not able to comment specifically on any details related to the investigation. The District takes this kind of activity very seriously and the appropriate measures will be taken once the investigation is complete.” 
 
 Obama has repeatedly faced racist remarks during her time as first lady. A West Virginia nonprofit director who compared her to an ape in a Facebook post last month lost her job over the comment. ||||| A person the Advocate identified as McCance responded: "No because being a fag doesn't give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives. If you get easily offended by being called a fag then dont tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that s--- to yourself. I dont care how people decide to live their lives. They dont bother me if they keep it to thereselves. It pisses me off though that we make a special purple fag day for them. I like that fags cant procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other aids and die. If you arent against it, you might as well be for it." 
 
 
 
 Another response to a commenter was equally provocative: "I would disown my kids if they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid christian beliefs. See it infects everyone." 
 
 On Tuesday night, the high school's principal's blog page was filled with comments from around the country. One commenter wrote: "Surely by now, you've seen the backlash against your board member, Mr. McCance, in regards to his horrifying comments regarding LGBT youth. His comments, while on his private Facebook page, are both inappropriate and dangerous ... and indications of a horrifying disregard for human life." 
 
 "Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves," a screen shot of the post (since removed from Facebook) said. "The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE."The Advocate identified the writer as Clint McCance, who sits on the Midland School Board in Pleasant Plains, Ark . Politics Daily was unable to confirm McCance wrote the Facebook postings -- repeated calls to his residence resulted in busy signals. But on Wednesday morning, McCance did not deny authorship when asked by Max Brantley, editor of the Arkansas Times.McCance told Brantley that the matter had been "blown out of proportion." He has hired an an attorney, according to the Arkansas Times Web site.Arkansas gay activists called for McCance's resignation by Wednesday night. If he doesn't resign, they said they will hold a vigil outside Midland High School Thursday morning to pressure him to do so.McCance's personal Facebook page was unavailable Tuesday afternoon, apparently taken down after The Advocate post.On Wednesday afternoon, the school district released a statement, "The Midland School District, Board of Directors, administration, faculty, and staff do not support or condone the comments Mr. Clint McCance posted on his personal social networking page. Mr. McCance was not acting as an agent of the school board, but as a private citizen. . . The district is very diligent in pursuing and addressing bullying of any variety on our campuses."A school secretary said Wednesday afternoon that McCance's position on the school board had not changed.Julie Thompson, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Education, told Politics Daily that the department also "strongly condemns" the remarks. But "Because Mr. McCance is an elected official, the department has no means of dealing with him directly. However, the department does have staff who investigate matters of bullying in schools and we will monitor and quickly respond to any bullying of students that may occur because of this, as we have with other civil rights issues in the past."Meanwhile, a Facebook campaign condemning the tirade -- " Fire Clint McCance " – was launched and nearly 20,000 people have joined the cause.The issue of gay bullying has been in the forefront of the nation's conscience since Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University, killed himself last month after a video of him in an intimate encounter with another man was posted on the Internet.A series of videos aimed at helping young gays and lesbians, called "It Gets Better," has gone viral, and even President Obama recently issued a video message to GLBT students after numerous incidences were reported of gay suicides and bullying Coincidentally on Tuesday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a message to 15,000 school districts and 5,000 college and universities stating that bullying is not acceptable and schools may have an obligation to intervene under federal law.According to The Advocate's report, McCance's status update received six comments from Facebook acquaintances "liking" the board member's status. One person commented, "Because hatred is always right."He continued, "I urge you to dismiss Mr. McCance for his egregious writings and warped sense of right and wrong. He now stands for an idea of hatred and bigotry in your community, without you sending a firm message against such callousness, you will be telling the youth of your community that his actions and hate speech are acceptable." All comments were deleted Wednesday morning.Matt DeCample, a spokesman for Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, told Politics Daily that his boss "is aware of Mr. McCance's comments, and while he feels there is never a place for such deplorable comments about any child, school boards are independent and locally controlled. Mr. McCance is an elected official, so any direct action would have to be taken at the local level."
– An Arkansas high school teacher has resigned as parents and students were planning to boycott school events in response to his references to Barack and Michelle Obama as "spider monkey" and "first chimp." The online posts attributed to Trent Bennett of Malvern High School have since been deleted, though a KATV reporter has posted screenshots to Twitter, per Time. After the Malvern School District announced Monday that it was investigating "inappropriate" comments using "racially charged rhetoric" posted to an employee's personal Facebook page, a special meeting was held Thursday, during which the school board unanimously voted to accept Bennett's resignation. The Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP had promised to hold protests if Bennett did not resign, per Arkansas Matters. Students and parents had also vowed to boycott school sporting events, reports the New York Daily News. "I am aware of the impact this has had, and though I negate that I have ever conducted myself in a less than professional manner in regard to my students, I have resigned my teaching position," Bennett says in a statement. "I would like to issue an apology for the outrage and hurt feelings caused by these comments. I acknowledge that they were disrespectful and offensive." He also says he's deleted his social media accounts to avoid "future issues." (A West Virginia nonprofit director was fired for a similar post, and a Buffalo school board member may be ousted for his Obama slurs.)