Will Fresno Unified board censure Terry Slatic after meeting debacle? He ‘doesn’t care’

Fresno Unified Trustee Terry Slatic says he “doesn’t care” if his fellow school board members censure him in connection with his extended outburst during Wednesday’s regular school board meeting.

FUSD Board President Valerie Davis ended the school board meeting after less than a full hour following numerous failed attempts to silence the disgruntled trustee. Tensions remained high following Wednesday’s meeting debacle, with multiple trustees saying the board should consider another censure.

“I think he will be considered for censure again. I’d support it,” Trustee Veva Islas told The Bee. “His actions last night were inexcusable. He delayed the business of the board. He only has himself to blame for whatever consequence he receives.”

But Slatic brushed off the potential censure, saying he “doesn’t care.”

“They don’t want diversity. They don’t want inclusion,” Slatic told The Bee. “They only want people that agree with them, look like them, and speak like them. They have proven such.”

According to FUSD spokesperson Nikki Henry, any agenda items the board failed to discuss would be moved to a future meeting, likely the upcoming Sept. 8 agenda. The board’s unfinished business includes discussions over potential redistricting and a community proposal to change the name of Forkner Elementary School.

Wednesday’s tensions came after Davis limited the amount of time each trustee could speak during the part of the meeting reserved for superintendent and board communications.

In an interview with The Bee following Wednesday’s meeting, Slatic said he was already frustrated by another new rule limiting the time trustees can spend with the superintendent one-on-one. Slatic said he used to meet with Superintendent Bob Nelson “two to three times a month” and said his fellow trustees have “taken away” that opportunity.

“I would happily cover these one-on-one with him, which is what I did my first two years on this board,” Slatic said. “That has been taken away by the board.”

But other trustees said Slatic has a habit of dominating speaking times and meeting schedules with Nelson.

Trustee Claudia Cazares said trustees typically have about 20 minutes each meeting to go over communications and announcements. She said Slatic typically dominates that time.

“In the past, we’ve seen that he takes up most of that time, and then we have to rush through our comments,” Cazares said.

Nelson told The Bee that the new rule was necessary. He said Slatic “takes his trusteeship very seriously.”

“I do have more interactions generally speaking with (Slatic) than I do with the (other trustees), which can create difficulty because they function as a group, and so any one person getting a great deal more access than anybody else can create problems,” Nelson said.

Late Thursday afternoon, Nelson issued a formal statement on the incident. (You can find the full statement at the bottom of this story.)

In his remarks Thursday, Nelson responded to Slatic’s criticisms regarding trustee time limits, noting that Slatic has been a trustee for “141 calendar weeks,” and had 169 face-to-face meeting with Nelson or other top administrators.”

“This number does not include additional calls, texts, or drop-in meetings that occurred in live time,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the district remains committed to “maintaining our focus on our kids.”

“But the reality is that educating students during a pandemic period in which case rates are rising allows no time for political theater to play itself out in the boardroom,” Nelson said Thursday.

Chaos erupts during Fresno Unified school board meeting

Wednesday’s meeting ended just after 7:15 p.m., hours ahead of schedule, after Slatic clashed with several school officials, including Superintendent Bob Nelson.

Chaos erupted when Davis tried to move the meeting ahead after Slatic refused to stop speaking. Slatic refused to stop talking over a community member during public comment.

Talking and arguing from the dais was inaudible at times. At one point, Davis cut off Slatic’s microphone, but he continued speaking anyway. The school board called at least one brief recess just before 7 p.m.

When the meeting resumed, Slatic continued to air a string of reported grievances from parents ranging from campus police to coronavirus protocols.

Slatic read letters of complaints from his constituents, including an issue about the credentials of one of the district’s principals, which drew sharp criticism from Nelson.

“Under no circumstance should any trustee speak publicly about personnel matters involving an individual employee,” Nelson said during the meeting.

Trustee Keshia Thomas said much of what Slatic said was “misinformation.”

“Employees were attacked, misinformation about incidents were reported,” Thomas said, “misinformation about employee credentials were questioned, and parents were disrespected and not given an opportunity to speak about their concerns in regards to their students and let’s not mention community members could not be heard.”

Slatic, Fresno school board have a long history of clashes

It would be the Bullard High-area representative’s second censure during his tenure on the FUSD school board, and it would come just days after the board lifted the first censure.

In 2019, the school board formally censured Slatic following multiple incidents at Bullard High School. The incidents involved an Army recruiter, a wrestling coach, and a time when Slatic grabbed the backpack of a Bullard student, and an altercation ensued.

Investigations into these incidents concluded that Slatic violated board policies, including failing to “govern responsibly” and blurring the distinctions between board and staff roles.

Slatic was also involved in a controversy in July 2019 surrounding his behavior at a Bullard High cheer practice when he scolded some cheerleaders over a blackface incident. One cheerleader’s family sought a restraining order against Slatic but failed to convince a judge Slatic’s behavior amounted to harassment.

Slatic eventually won $1,000 from the 16-year-old girl’s family to help him recoup part of the legal fees he racked up defending himself.

On multiple occasions, trustees have accused Slatic of racism, a charge he has denied each time.

Last year, a prominent Latino pastor in Fresno said Slatic told the pastor to “go back to the barrio” after an argument erupted during an informal meeting. Slatic flatly denied using the phrase and said the pastor was “bearing false witness.”

Other trustees also criticized Slatic in October after he cast the lone “no” vote on a resolution formally declaring Fresno Unified an anti-racist institution. Slatic said the resolution was unnecessary and “political.”

He’s frequently at odds with trustees, voting against the majority on many issues, including changing Fresno High School’s decades-old logo and naming Fresno’s newest school campus.

Slatic has also taken to criticizing some of his fellow trustees in the media.

In June, he appeared on the conservative talk show The Constitutionalist with Terry Collins on TalkRadio 1550 KXEX and described his fellow school board members as “witches” and “racist.” He also compared his work on the school board to his experience in combat in the military.

But, speaking with The Bee on Thursday, Slatic confirmed the school board lifted his censure earlier this month during a private meeting. Slatic said it should have been done in public since that’s how the censure was handed down.

“I said, ‘oh, are we going to do this in open session today like when all of these weird illegal censures were placed on me?” Slatic said.

He said Davis handed him a letter that removes the 2019 censures.

“I have it. I haven’t bothered reading it,” Slatic said. “Board officers decide to remove censure in the quietest way possible. That is the story that my constituents see it as.”

Full statement from FUSD Superintendent Bob Nelson

“Last night our Fresno Unified School District meeting of the governing board was adjourned early without having addressed all business because of trustee Major Slatic’s unwillingness to follow parliamentary procedure. Trustee Major Slatic failed to comply with specific sections of the Brown Act and Board Bylaw 9005, which states that, “Board members shall govern responsibly and hold themselves to the highest standards of ethical conduct,” and “Refrain from rude or abusive conduct, personal attacks, or verbal attacks upon the character or motives of other Board members, District employees, or members of the public.” In accordance with Board Bylaw 9121, the board president shall, “Rule on parliamentary procedure,” and when trustee Major Slatic was asked to end his remarks on three different occasions spanning approximately one hour in duration, trustee Major Slatic continued to speak over others, including members of the public, who came to address the board directly during the unscheduled oral communications portion of the public meeting.

“Additionally, several remarks were made, both during the meeting and subsequently to media outlets across the city, that represent trustee Major Slatic’s views alone, and do not reflect the views of the district. Furthermore, the district takes no responsibility for the content of trustee Major Slatic’s remarks or the accuracy of his statements.

“By way of an example, trustee Major Slatic stated both publicly in the meeting as well as to media members that he had to essentially perform a pre-planned political filibuster because his access to the superintendent’s office was restricted by other members of the governing board. To date, trustee Major Slatic has been seated in office for 141 calendar weeks. Over that same span, he has had 169 face-to-face, prescheduled meetings with either myself as superintendent, David Chavez, chief of staff, or Patrick Jensen, superintendent’s office administrator. This number does not include additional calls, texts, or drop-in meetings that occurred in live time. Many of these meetings involved all three of us as staff, along with deputy superintendent Misty Her.

“Trustee Major Slatic also used board/superintendent communications, both last night and in previous board meetings, as a tool to make derogatory comments of specific district staff by name, which is directly in conflict with Board Bylaw 9005. For the record, I am proud of the work our employees do for the district and am profoundly grateful for the dedicated service they provide to our students.

“It is noteworthy that trustee Major Slatic did make it known that he intended to speak for 75 minutes during board/superintendent communications in advance of the meeting, which is the reason the board president specifically reviewed the parliamentary guidelines in advance of his remarks. But the reality is that educating students during a pandemic period in which case rates are rising allows no time for political theater to play itself out in the boardroom. We are committed to maintaining our focus on our kids and on our commitment to educate them safely and responsibly.”

-Bob Nelson, FUSD superintendent

The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Read more from The Bee’s Education Lab at our website.

This story was originally published August 26, 2021 at 1:27 PM.