Alejandra Santana resigns from Brush School Board
Santana was in her final year of serving on the board when she tendered her resignation on Monday
Towards the end of its twohour meeting on Monday evening, the Brush School Board accepted the resignation of Alejandra Santana.
Santana, who had served on the board for three years, emailed her resignation letter last week to RE-2J Superintendent Dr. Bill Wilson. Santana’s term was due to end in November.
“Ethical and moral reasons,” she responded when asked what prompted her resignation.
“Safety of children is far more important to me than any person’s — including myself — reputation,” she added. “I have zero regrets over anything that I have done.”
She emailed a copy of her resignation letter to The Fort Morgan Times and gave permission to use it in this story.
“Dear Bill: It is with regret that I tender my resignation from the Brush School District Re2J board of directors, effective immediately,” the letter began. “It is my opinion that the board and the district no longer serve the best interest of students and I cannot serve on a board where personal gain and reputation is more important than the safety and education of our students and community.”
“Over the last 10 months I have witnessed this board, superintendent, multiple administrators and multiple staff disregard student safety, tamper with evidence, violate students’ rights, amongst other illegal and unethical actions. Wilson, you have continually made decisions that have not only been illegal but also jeopardized students’, staff, our district, and our community. I cannot serve on a board that so blatantly disregards children’s safety and disregards staffs illegal actions.”
According to Santana, Wilson replied to her resignation with “thanks, I’ll let the rest of the board know.”
Voicemails left with Wilson seeking comment for this story were not immediately returned.
Santana said with everything that’s transpired over the last 10 months with the board, coupled with recent and foreseeable decisions, “I could not ethically or morally be part of a board or district that made the decisions that were made on Monday.”
The board voted to reinstate assistant director of the Brush Secondary Campus Bradley Bass and terminate the student resource officer agreement with the City of Brush at the meeting. When asked if those two decisions were those she was referring to, she replied “no comment.”
Bass was placed on leave last year during an investigatory and judicial process into charges levied against him and Brush Secondary Campus Director Scott Hodgson by the Brush Police Department; many district employees were essential in interim roles, part of the school board’s statement read, which was released Tuesday. Bass and Hodgson have both been returned to their positions.
The student resource officer agreement has been a matter of contention between the School Board and City Council since last August.
Lacy Garrett, board vice president, indicated the vacant board seat will be filled by appointment by the board within 60 days. Interested persons are encouraged to send a statement of interest and qualifications to the board by April 17. On that day the board will conduct interviews with potential candidates at a public meeting. Potential candidates must be a registered elector of the Brush School District, and the selected candidate will serve until the regular school bi-annual election in November.
Neither Wilson nor any board member gave comment about Santana leaving at the conclusion of accepting her resignation and approving the resolution to fill the seat.
When asked to describe her time on the board, Santana said, “no comment.” When asked if she accomplished what she wanted to while on the board, she responded, “(I’m) not quite sure yet.” She said she does plan to attend future school board meetings.