Monday night, the Vineland School District Board of Trustees appointed Roberto Euresti as the new superintendent. The decision struck controversy in the district, with some staff stating he has made concerning mistakes in the past, and other staff saying they should move on from the mistakes.
Commenters were advised before the meeting not to name any personnel; however, Euresti was confirmed by a statement read by Alejandra Segura on behalf of herself and three other board members: Jennifer Najera, Tiffany Gonzalez, and Maria Jaramillo.
Jackie Clark, an 8th-grade teacher in the district, spoke in the meeting before the decision, stating that the proposed person for the job has accusations of making misogynistic remarks towards women at work and online.
“This shows a clear pattern of abusive and misogynous language in the district where most employees are women, that matters. Respect and leadership matters. This school board is made up of four women. Is this acceptable behavior to you?” said Clark.
She continued to say that staff are afraid to speak out against the decision out of fear of retaliation and asked them to reconsider their choice.
“When staff are afraid to speak, something is wrong. Most importantly, I am here for the students. They do not get a vote. They’re the ones who are most affected by this decision. I am not afraid to speak. It is my duty as an educator and a mandated reporter. My job is to protect the students I serve. And our students deserve leadership that is steady, respectful, and focused on their success. Someone who has a strong moral character. So I’m making a clear and urgent request: pause, or please reconsider your choice for superintendent,” said Clark.
Some staff members, such as Annabelle Rubio, a district employee of 25 years, expressed that social media can ruin people’s lives and stated the board should stick with their decision. She stated that everyone has made mistakes, and those in the district should be uniting.
“I want to remind everyone that works here. This is a district that provides for us, pays our bills, and puts food on our table for our families,” said Rubio. “Why would we do this to our small district? Aren’t we supposed to be a family since we spend half of our time at work? We need to protect each other and our district from negativity at all times, no matter what is occurring in our district.”
She continued to say that while they can not change the past, they can change the future, and that they must stop adult drama. Lydia Veronica Tapia made similar comments, stating Euresti has worked for the district for 22 years and has been student-centered.
The topic of listening to those who voted for them was heavy at the meetings, but in very different ways. Comments were made about how the board should not let the community pressure them to change their mind, but others urged the board to change their mind. All stated they wanted what was best for the children.
Although some stated Euresti was a great candidate for the position because of his work history, Geniece Trevino stated that just because someone is qualified on paper does not mean they should get the job.
“Experience on paper means nothing if you don’t know how to treat people. You can have decades in education, titles, credentials, but if leadership creates fear, instead of trust, that experience is worthless,” said Trevino. “What troubles me most isn’t the decision, it’s the climate around it, the silence, the tension in this room, the very real concern that speaking honestly could come with consequences. Whether retaliation is intended or not, the fear of it is real, and when staff operate in fear, morale drops. Collaboration dies, students ultimately feel that instability.”
When it was time to vote, Boardmember Frank Segura voted no. This was after he also asked to postpone the discussion about the superintendent overall until a later date. He explained that, based on legal counsel’s advice, he suggested waiting because, if something goes wrong in the district, it is on the board members.
“Mine’s going to be no, and my reason why it’s no is that I just feel that no one is above the law, and when they need legal advice, I take that very serious. But if something is ever going to happen to this district, the one that votes yes, you guys are going to be reliable, and I just want to make sure it’s on the record,” said Frank.
In the statement read by Alejandra, she explained that they understand the decision will not be supported by all, and they heard the concerns regarding “negative experiences and damage to professional relationships,” however, they still feel it is the right decision.
“We believe Mr. Euresti can provide the structure and consistency of our district needs. But we also understand the need to ensure that trust is restored and relationships are healed,” said Alejandra. “We feel confident that with the clear expectations, professional development, training, and time, Mr. Euresti can provide the consistency we need.”
After the meeting, Clark spoke more about her reasoning for opposing the decision, including that the students are aware of who he is and refer to him as the guy who sleeps all the time.
“There’s pictures and video evidence of him sleeping on the job,” said Clark.
Clark stated he is not fit for the position due to his poor work ethic and the staff’s fear of him. She explained that she’s heard of instances of him and others close to him intimidating staff.
“This individual has been known for attacking anybody who thinks differently than them. I know that he will do things to intimidate, to speak down, to make you feel unwelcome, and if he’s not personally doing it, he has a group of people that will do it,” said Clark.
Clark stated she would have liked to see a candidate from outside of the district to have a fresh start in leading them.
“Somebody who had no hidden agenda, somebody who just wanted to lead the district in the right direction. Somebody who was going to give us the best chance to move forward and somebody who was about the kids, really about the kids, and not about themselves,” said Clark.
She stated that she is disappointed in the decision, and it makes he sad for the students.
“It makes me sad for the students. That’s it. Sad for the students. I’m an adult, and I have the freedom of choice and the freedom to move elsewhere if I wanted to. But these kids don’t have that freedom. They are stuck in this district, and they’re stuck with the long-term decisions that were made tonight,” said Clark.
