Manuel Isquierdo played his hand
On Friday, the majority members of the Governing Board packed an Emergency Meeting with friends and relatives to play their parts in the continuing Sunnyside saga. Board President Louie Gonzales’s daughter cried, while Superintendent Manuel Isquierdo asked for the Board to buy out his contract.
The Emergency Meeting was conveniently scheduled at a time when reform Board members Daniel Hernandez and Buck Crouch were unavailable.
Related article:
Isquierdo wants contract buyout, accuses Board member of racism
In the most dramatic fashion, Isquierdo, who had been accused of overstating graduation rates by Crouch, played the race card. He said Crouch had insulted him and accused Crouch of being a racist.
However, residents say it was Isquierdo who was insulting and possibly racist with his comments. As reported by KOLD News, Isquierdo said that residents might replace the current Board with members who would have them “go back to their pencils and papers. The old south-side way of doing things.”
Isquierdo comments not only outraged residents, but Buck Crouch sent KOLD’s reporter; Sonu Wasu a statement:
When I heard that the superintendent and his board of three were accusing me of being a racist, I thought it was a joke, that even they could not sink that low. But alas, they have and are apparently filing a civil rights violation lawsuit against me. If I were racist, would I choose to live in the Sunnyside school district? Would I be a member and current president of the Kino Rotary Club of South Tucson? The majority of people I choose to associate with are of one or more minority groups.
I am prejudice against bigots and idiots, but not against any racial or ethnic group.
It is interesting that they made this attack at a special board meeting after verifying that I am out of state at my grandson’s graduation and Daniel Hernandez is out of state on business.On Friday night Manuel Isquierdo played the only card he had left; the race card…..
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