“I don’t want to bring a bad light on the district,” he said.

In his letter of apology, Meyer, a Lutheran, wrote that his comments at the meeting stemmed from his strong religious faith. He described them as “mine alone and not that of the board or district. And no, I do not hate anyone.”

Officials with two Nebraska atheist groups had criticized his meeting comments, one describing them as “hate speech.”

Kennedy, the board president, said he spoke with Meyer on Wednesday.

Meyer, he said, was “very contrite” and “wanted to make it right.”

“Paul actually offered the apology, he said.

Kennedy said that over the past 48 hours he’d answered “tons” of emails sent to the district.

“People had a right to be angry and a right to complain,” he said.

Kennedy also said the main issue facing the Millard district is not what to call winter break but rather budget concerns. Social issues like this one, he said, can distract.

Kennedy sent a letter to Millard staff Wednesday, noting that no board member had supported Meyer’s motion.