Santos Addresses Claims in Jubrey's Letter

Republican Board of Education member read the following letter to the Windsor community at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting:

An open letter to the Windsor Community 

I have served as a member of the Windsor Board of Education since 2007.  On November 10, 2011 our Board met to conduct final interviews of candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools.  Following those interviews, Board members discussed, ranked and voted on the candidates.  After that meeting, a former member of our Board, Howard Jubrey, issued a broadcast email entitled, “WHY I FIGHT”, which was circulated throughout our community.  Included in Mr. Jubrey’s email message was the following statement which purported to describe something that I said during our meeting, but which was inaccurate and taken out of context: 

“A comment was made by Mrs. Santos that she saw no need for a Black Man to educate our kids.” 

The Board meeting which was the subject of Mr. Jubrey’s e-mail was not public, but rather entailed a confidential discussion about personnel matters.  For that reason, I have been unable to respond publicly to this false statement until now.  At present, our search for a new superintendent has been completed, and now I can explain what I actually said during our November 10, 2011 meeting and why.  This is not a complete description of all that happened in that meeting, but rather focuses on the specific statement above.  I feel it is necessary for me to do this because I have heard this false statement discussed and repeated by members of our community and have heard myself identified as “a racist” because of it.

During the Board’s search process, Mr. Jubrey stated that he and another Board member were the “only two BOE members that were fighting for the black students” in our schools because they were the only two who understood what it was like to be black.  Mr. Jubrey repeatedly stated that only an African American candidate should be considered because he was the only one who would be able to understand the achievement gap. 

When it was my turn to speak about this, I stated,  “The culture and climate of the school district can be changed and it does not require hiring a black man.”  This comment was made in response to Mr. Jubrey’s insistence that only the African American candidate would be qualified to be our next superintendent, as though his race, in and of itself, were a necessary qualification.  My words were intended to express a contrary opinion. 

I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight on this important issue. 

Sincerely,

Cristina Santos