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Parents and community members press Beaumont Unified over trustee’s social‑media post
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the Beaumont Unified School District Board of Trustees to hold Board member David Sanchez accountable for an inflammatory social‑media post; Sanchez apologized at the March 4 meeting and the board proceeded to elect CSBA delegates, including Sanchez, after discussion.
Several parents and district residents told the Beaumont Unified School District Board of Trustees on March 4 that a trustee’s social‑media post had harmed community trust and warranted stronger action than a written apology.
At the public‑comment portion of the meeting, a speaker identified as Sonia urged the board not to vote for Board member David Sanchez as a delegate to the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and quoted the post: “we need a day without a half breed can't get more American than that.” Pat Wayne, a retired educator, called the post a designed meme and said more than 1,000 petition signatures were ready if the board did not take further action. Cindy and other residents echoed calls for accountability and possible recall.
Board member David Sanchez addressed the board during consideration of the CSBA delegate slate. Sanchez said he had made a public apology and told the board, “I did apologize to the administration and to the board … I will make it verbally as well.” Several trustees referenced the public comments and the community’s reaction during discussion.
The board nominated and voted on the CSBA delegate slate. The motion to accept the proposed delegates carried; the clerk recorded the outcome as carried with four yes votes, one abstention and one no. The board did not take any separate disciplinary action against Sanchez at the meeting.
Several trustees and the superintendent noted limits on the board’s authority to discipline an elected colleague, saying formal removal or recall would have to come from those who elected the member or through legal mechanisms. Dr. Lanston Sylvester said it is not within the board’s scope to discipline another board member and urged the community to pursue remedies available to voters.
The matter remained unresolved at the end of the meeting: members of the public left having registered their complaints and a trustee who apologized remained on the slate of delegates approved by the board.
