The NAACP, Quad County Urban League and other local Black leaders are becoming more vocal about what they see as an “unwelcome” culture in East Aurora School District 131.
And after several meetings with district leaders, they are turning up the pressure not only to address what they call “a growing crisis of trust” among Black staff members and students but are calling for the resignation of a school board member.
The environment at East Aurora, says DuPage County NAACP President Michael Childress, had already been fostering a “clear pattern of fear, retaliation and disregard” for Black staff and students, according to a letter he sent in early August to District 131 Superintendent Bob Halverson.
But the situation was amplified when remarks made by new school board member Mayra Reyes came to Childress’ attention, in which she was taking issue with the district’s award-winning dual language program.
Reyes declined to comment for this story. But according to Childress, her comments were made last year while she was being interviewed as a candidate to take the place of East Aurora school board member Dan Barreiro, who resigned to become an Aurora alderman.
Reyes was not chosen for that vacant position. However, in April’s election, she won a spot on the District 131 school board that saw an increase in Hispanic representation but no longer has a Black member.
According to audio obtained by The Beacon-News of last year’s interview for the vacant school board position, Reyes claimed she was “not as in support of (the dual language program) as I once was” because “I struggle with the fact we are now giving the advantage that Spanish speakers may have at one point … over somebody who wasn’t bilingual.”
According to the audio recording, she went on to say, “Now we are making all of us kind of all even in that playing field.” And as an example Reyes on the recording described “an African American kid who did not grow up speaking Spanish” now being able to speak Spanish “along with the kid who did grow up speaking Spanish” and might seek a job as a translator.
“And now the African American kid can, too,” she said on the audio recording of the interview. “So I feel like that advantage has been taken away.”
Childress, along with retired longtime educator Cynthia Latimer and Quad County Urban League President Theodia Gillespie, who was chosen for that temporary school board position and narrowly lost the seat in April’s election, told me in separate interviews this week that hearing this audio recording of Reyes became the “final straw” in a growing list of grievances voiced by East Aurora’s Black staff and families who feel they are being unfairly targeted and no longer have a voice in the schools or at the leadership table.
In the letter to Halverson, Childress noted reports of a hostile work environment, unfounded allegations and a “disturbing misuse of authority that has left some staff members emotionally distressed, professionally vulnerable and even on administrative leave without resolution.”
He also said Black students have no “trusted person” to go to, with some being unfairly disciplined “because they fight back.”
In an email response to my questions, the East Aurora School District superintendent noted the district is “taking a systemic approach” to address these concerns, “including launching audits, updating staff training and enhancing direct engagement with our community to ensure fair process and accountability.”
In addition, he added, the district is updating processes for hiring and retaining staff who “reflect the values of our community and are equipped to meet the evolving needs of our students.”
While Halverson’s response did not directly mention Reyes, he wrote that he will be “responsive to the direction of the Board of Education, which has put in place clear and comprehensive policies that demand the fair and equitable treatment of all students and staff … including any lapse in our responsibility to protect their rights.”
In the email, Halverson, who mentioned his lifelong ties to Aurora and commitment to building a district that “truly serves all,” went on to note that “a crucial part of our evolving process is actively engaging with community members who have voiced concern.”
But the group raising these issues insists Halverson has not taken those concerns seriously, and that they will continue to demand action until Reyes resigns.
“When I became aware of what Mayra said I was floored by the fact she not only felt it’s OK to take a program away from Black students in order to help Hispanic students but that she verbalized it,” said Latimer, who worked in classrooms and administration in East and West Aurora school districts for over 30 years, including as former director of bilingual education for West Aurora District 129.
“There was so much positive news coming out of East” regarding the “growth made to make sure all kids are successful,” she told me. “To have the view that any child be denied the opportunity to learn to benefit another student has to be exposed. There is no place for views such as this, and given her position it has become more of an issue.”
“An apology would have been great,” said Gillespie in response to my question about what this group is seeking. “But it is past that point.”
In Halverson’s reply, he pointed to the “clear expectations” he’s set for himself and his administration to “cultivate a climate” where every employee feels comfortable identifying problems or suggesting improvements and where every student can access services with confidence and dignity.
“While I recognize that building a culture of transparency and professional respect takes time,” the email continued, “I am encouraged by the growing confidence among our staff and remain committed to continuous improvement ….”
Childress, who told me this issue has become “personal” because his own daughter has excelled in her career thanks to her dual-language abilities, is planning to be among those bringing up their demands at Monday’s East Aurora School District board meeting.
“How does that look to the community,” he asked, “when a member of the school board talks about how she feels something should be denied African American students in order to help Hispanic students.”
“The perception is that Black people do not matter anymore in Aurora … and perception is the reality,” he said.
dcrosby@tribpub.com