Community presses East Aurora board after comments about dual-language access; board issues statement, pledges bias training

Dozens of parents and community leaders pressed the East Aurora School District 131 Board of Education on Oct. 6, 2025, over comments made last year by board member Myra Reyes during a closed-session interview, saying the remarks suggested African American students should be excluded from dual-language programming and demanded accountability.

The speakers said the comments have harmed trust between the district and Black families and asked the board to either secure a resignation or formally censure Reyes; the board instead read a public statement denouncing the remarks, pledged equity and unconscious-bias training, and asked members to reaffirm a commitment to inclusion. The board did not place a censure motion on the meeting agenda and legal counsel said the board’s disciplinary authority is limited to actions occurring during service as a board member.

Community leaders said the issue goes beyond a single interview excerpt and reflects deeper beliefs that must be addressed. “Every word you speak, every action you take has a direct impact . . . on the students of this district,” Cynthia Latimer said during public comment. Psychologist and community leader Dr. Vincent Gaddis told the board the disputed comments appear to reflect “structural beliefs” rather than an isolated slip of the tongue and urged Reyes to meet with community leaders: “If you do not do anything but stay silent, we know what all of your structural beliefs actually are.”

Parents described immediate effects on children’s feelings of belonging. Drea Donaldson said, “My daughter shouldn't have the same access as your daughter,” referring to the program access described in the released interview audio, and urged the board to act.

Several speakers called for formal sanctioning or resignation. Randy Ryder told the board he had filed paperwork seeking removal and criticized the board’s silence. By contrast, former board member Juanita Wells and several others urged the district to focus on correcting issues and on community healing rather than removal.

Legal counsel summarized the board’s options and limits. He told the meeting that censure is a disciplinary action that applies to conduct while serving on the board and that policies and the Illinois School Code place removal authority with the regional superintendent in certain cases. He also said sanctioning speech made as a private citizen is generally not supported by board policy.

Board President Juan Cifuentes read a prepared statement that “denounce[d] the statement” made during a closed-session interview and affirmed that the board “has never considered, will not consider, and will not take any action that deprives any student of the services and opportunities they deserve.” The statement said the board will pursue training to “root out unconscious bias,” increase community engagement channels, and asked members to reaffirm their individual commitment to equity. Several board members verbally endorsed that statement during the meeting; there was no formal roll-call motion to censure or to remove the member at this meeting.

Board member Myra Reyes addressed the meeting directly and said she made a mistake in the interview and that she did not intend to exclude students from programs. “I have a daughter with an IEP, so special education is also something that I'm here to advocate for,” Reyes said. She also said she is willing to meet with community leaders and to participate in bias training.

The board and district said they would continue to meet with community stakeholders and to schedule training and other actions they said were intended to restore trust and strengthen equitable access to programs.

The meeting moved on to routine business after the public comments and statements; no disciplinary vote or formal censure was taken at the Oct. 6 meeting.