Fresno trustee speaks out on Twitter controversy that shut down a school board meeting

Fresno Unified Trustee Veva Islas is not apologizing for recent comments that drew angry criticism during Wednesday’s tense school board meeting from residents who accused Islas of ridiculing infertility and those opposed to COVID-19 vaccinations.

In an interview with The Bee’s Education Lab late Wednesday, Islas said her comment has been intentionally misconstrued during a politically-charged campaign season in which she is up for re-election.

“I am a progressive candidate,” she said. “I have been very vocal in terms of what I think needs to happen and very vocal on what causes harm. I think that makes me a target.”

She said she never mocked infertility.

“My comment is not to hurt anybody who is struggling with conception or infertility,” Islas told The Bee’s Education Lab. “My comment is to dispute that vaccines cause infertility. And to dispel anti-vaxxer rhetoric.”

Islas on Jan. 26 Tweeted:

“New data confirms that getting vaccinated does not impact fertility. The study does show, however, that a recent COVID-19 infection may have short-term impacts on a man’s ability to conceive. While short-term, any limitation on an anti-vaxers ability to reproduce is a win!”

The comment angered some community members who demanded Islas apologize and resign during Wednesday’s school board meeting.

Islas said the remark was “in jest” and acknowledged people could criticize its “poor taste.”

“But people are making it so much more than it was intended to be,” she added.

She did not apologize Wednesday.

“I am opposed to anti-vaxxers. I am. I won’t sugarcoat it,” Islas said. “But I do not wish harm to anybody.

“My regret is that it took up all of this time in a meeting. My regret is that my colleagues and the superintendent have had to take flack. That I set the reality that allowed this type of vitriol to spew.”

Wednesday meeting chaos

Board President Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas abruptly ended Wednesday’s meeting during an angry exchange between Trustee Terry Slatic and Jessica Mahoney, a Fresno resident and former bus driver.

Sparks flew after Mahoney, speaking during the meeting’s public comment period, remarked it was unfortunate an effort to recall Slatic had failed to get off the ground. Slatic interrupted her and indicated he would not let her finish.

In an interview with The Bee late Wednesday, Slatic said the meeting debacle would have been avoided had Jonasson Rosas “enforced the civility clause,” a criticism she said had “no merit.”

The incident came at the end of a string of angry residents who lashed out at both Islas and Slatic.

Islas said Slatic was “incredibly disrespectful” to the public and to Jonasson Rosas on Wednesday night. She noted that he demanded two of his critics be removed from the meeting, but “he didn’t object when people were saying terrible things to me.”

Islas said she intended to listen to everyone who spoke out Wednesday.

“People today wanted to express their freedom of speech,” she said. “I sat there, and I listened to all of the terrible things they were saying about me.”

She said it was the same right she exercised in her now-controversial Tweet.

“I expressed my freedom of speech. That is my personal tweet, it is my personal page, and it is not related to policy or any school board matters,” Islas said.

Trustees Keisha Thomas said she disagrees with Islas’ Tweet.

“I, for one, do not share this belief which was Tweeted and am hopeful as a community leader she will apologize and take responsibility for saying something so mean and unnecessary,” Thomas said.

Thomas said that if Islas reprimands Slatic for “inappropriate behavior,” she should “take responsibility” for her own actions.

“Accountability is accountability,” Thomas said.

Wednesday’s meeting debacle came just hours after The Fresno Bee reported that Fresno County prosecutors had closed the investigation prompted by Slatic in September. Slatic accused FUSD Superintendent Bob Nelson and four trustees of violating California education laws that require the district to inform teachers when a transfer student has a history of violence.

Prosecutors on Wednesday said they could not prove “that any individual knowingly failed to provide information as required.”

Wednesday’s meeting was reminiscent of the last FUSD school board meeting that was adjourned early and left district business unfinished. The late August meeting was ended after Slatic appeared to stage a kind-of filibuster during FUSD’s regular school board meeting.

This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 7:50 AM.