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Community leaders, parents demand resignation after board member's remarks on bilingual program
Summary
Dozens of residents, civil-rights groups and students addressed the Aurora East USD 131 board Sept. 15 to protest remarks by board member Myra Reyes about the district's dual-language program and to demand accountability; Reyes apologized at the meeting and the superintendent said he will continue outreach and review.
Dozens of residents, students and community leaders addressed the Aurora East USD 131 board of education on Sept. 15 to demand accountability after comments by board member Myra Reyes about the district's dual-language program surfaced in media coverage.
Speakers at the meeting said Reyes's remarks — they said she suggested Black students should not be allowed to learn Spanish because it would remove an "inherent advantage" — undermined trust in the district and disproportionately harmed Black families. Michael Childress, president of the NAACP chapter, told the board the organization is asking Reyes to resign.
"We're asking Miss Reyes to resign immediately," Childress said during public comment, calling the statements a violation of the community's trust. Deodia Gillespie, who spoke on behalf of local civic groups, said the comments "divide the district and our community," and called on the board to implement accountability measures and stronger staff training.
Several speakers linked the remarks to wider patterns they said affect Black students and staff in the district. Pastor John Thompson and other faith leaders urged the board to ensure representation and protections for African American students. Randy Ryder said he plans to file complaints with the state attorney general and the local Human Rights Commission if the district does not act.
Student speakers described how the climate affects them in school. Fifth-grader Riziah Fultz described feeling unsafe and misunderstood at her school; her grandmother Mary Fultz and other parents urged the board to address those classroom-level concerns in addition to the controversy over the board member's comments.
Board member Myra Reyes addressed the crowd near the end of the public comment period. She said the Beacon News article reporting her past interview "does not reflect the entirety of my response," and added, "I do take full responsibility for my poor choice of words ... I deeply apologize for the hurt and frustrations I clearly have caused. It was never my intention to offend or discriminate in any way, shape, or form against any minority group." Reyes said she was nervous during the interview and pledged to work for the district.
Superintendent Dr. Halverson told attendees he has met with constituent groups and remains open to additional meetings. He said he will continue outreach and follow-up with community leaders, referencing meetings on Aug. 6 and Aug. 27 and an email he sent on Aug. 27. "I'm still open to meeting together to remedy this problem and figure out exactly what we can do to continue to support all of the students within our school district," Halverson said.
Several speakers asked the board to take formal steps, including public censure or the board member's resignation; the meeting record shows no formal disciplinary action or vote on that matter during the Sept. 15 session. A number of community members also asked the board to require cultural-intelligence and implicit-bias training for all board members and staff.
Some speakers urged coalition-building between Black and Latino communities rather than framing the issue as a competition for resources. Others raised concerns about hiring and leadership representation in the superintendent's cabinet.
The board president acknowledged the community's concerns during the meeting and said the district's work to ensure students and staff feel "safe, respected, and supported" must continue with urgency. The superintendent said he will follow up with constituent leaders and extended an invitation to community members to join problem-solving meetings.
The board did not announce any personnel actions or formal sanctions at the meeting. Community leaders said they will continue to press for action at future board meetings and through outside complaint processes if necessary.
A public follow-up meeting between district staff and community representatives was described as forthcoming by district leadership; no firm date for additional board action on the remarks was set on Sept. 15.
