COLDWATER, Kansas — The Comanche County school board president whose car was recently shot up is declining to answer questions about the case — or the sexual harassment case which appears to have precipitated it.
On Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, USD 300 Comanche County School Board President Kelly Herd’s car was struck by 10 bullets while parked and unoccupied.
Herd and the rest of the school board have been “embroiled in controversy that led to the suspension of superintendent Ty Theurer pending an inquiry into allegations he sexually harassed and inappropriately touched a student,” the Wichita Eagle reported, in a story which originally ran on the Kansas Reflector.
According to the Eagle, the Comanche County student’s family in the spring of this year filed a sexual harassment complaint against Theurer, who in addition to his duties as superintendent of schools, was also the high school golf coach. In the wake of the allegations — which included telling the alleged female victim to hold a golf club “like a penis,” Theurer resigned as golf coach, but retained his position as superintendent until Sept. 4, when he was put on paid suspension.
According to the Kansas Reflector, “Herd, who became aware of the student’s harassment complaint four months ago, had resisted punishment of Theurer beyond the warning placed in his personnel file. She had told fellow board members no additional sanction was necessary in response to an allegation that Theurer, while serving as golf coach, advised a female student to hold clubs like she were gripping a penis. The girl had also complained of unwanted touching by Theurer.”
The Reflector reported that Herd said in an email to other board members that in her opinion, “There was nothing in the complaint that would warrant administrative leave” for Superintendent Theurer. Instead, she told board members, coach Theurer had been given a “warning” not to offend again.
Herd apparently also sent emails to board members saying “Theurer did not deny or make excuses,” and had been “written up.”
Again, according to the Reflector, “The school board didn’t discuss publicly the reason for taking action against Theurer at this time. There was no board disclosure about who would temporarily lead the district or for how long.
“The board adopted a vague motion to proceed with ‘next steps’ that the board president said had been discussed in executive session. None of that information was shared with the audience.”
The Sentinel contacted Herd via email, asking if she believed the shooting of her car was related to the controversy surrounding the allegations against Theurer, if she believed attempts to retain the superintendent — despite the allegations — were warranted, and if there had been any further developments in the case.
Herd replied, “I apologize, I am unable to comment at this time.”
According to the Eagle, Comanche County Sheriff Jacob Bruckner confirmed a USD 300 school board member owned the vehicle. He said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation responded to help process the crime scene and assist with the investigation, and Comanche County School Board member Steve Prusa, after being notified of the shooting, was “alarmed.”
“It’s not just a vandalism,” Prusa said. “It’s definitely to a different level.”
Law enforcement has asked the public to check home security systems for video of vehicles or people in the area at the time of the shooting.
