Home Antioch Antioch School Board Trustee Debra Vinson Threatened With Recall Effort

Antioch School Board Trustee Debra Vinson Threatened With Recall Effort

by ECT Staff

On Wednesday night, school employee Nicole Cedano informed Antioch School Board Trustee Debra Vinson that she will likely face a recall effort in the coming weeks.

Cedano, who addressed the school board for a second time in a matter of months questioned Vinson’s behavior after saying she witnessed her suggest to another employee that they need a “course in bigotry” at Antioch Middle School.

Cedano highlighted that for the past month, that incident did not sit well with her and that a “forced apology” was not enough because it appears not to be sincere,” explained Cedano. “This is not the first time she has interfered or bullied staff members. It’s not acceptable and her actions are just ridiculous and disgusting. She should really take a look in the mirror and resign from her position on the school board.”

Here are the public comments stated by Cedano on Wednesday:

“Since I last came regarding Debra Vinson’s disrespectful behavior, I have been approached by many people  with accounts of more disrespectful behavior by Debra Vinson.

Ms. Vinson was at the internal selection committee for endorsements where she called Mary Rocha too old, too out of touch and not qualified to run for city council…. She was then at the Democratic Central Committee where she called Mary Rocha a racist in front of 70-people, including Mary Rocha herself.

I would like to remind you all that Mary Rocha began here very career on this school board. Education Code 4811—insults and abuse—says any parent guardian or other person who’s conduct disrupts a place or a school employee in the course of his or her duties is punishable by a fine not exceeding $100, by imprisonment by not more than 10-days or both.

With that being said, Debra Vinsons behavior is extremely detrimental to our district. She has cost the District $3,000 in legal fees because of her behavior. Is this the kind of person that we want serving on our board….A golden rule to live by is treat people how you want to be treated that is something we learned in kindergarten. Perhaps Ms. Vinson has forgotten how to treat people.

In the coming weeks, you will formally be informed that a petition for a recall will be started.”

Cedano highlighted that after she spoke a month ago, she has had multiple employees approach her with horror stories and are showing her support with her efforts.

“It was odd, after the first time I spoke I had other employees tell me good job and I said what needed to be said because they could not necessarily say it,” explained Cedano. “They told me thank you and I thought that was the end of it but an investigation into comments made by Debra Vinson had not yet been completed. Later I find out she costs the district $3,000 in legal fees because she would not apologize for her behavior to a middle school secretary.”

She said after Wednesday’s meeting, people were offering to help move the petition forward and were willing to put time and energy into it.

“I was approached by multiple staff willing to sign the petition and any help I needed they were willing to give. It was surreal because I know people have spoken to me about supporting a recall, but now people I don’t even know are willing to help. That says something about Ms. Visons’ behavior,” explained Cedano. “We need good people on the board looking out for students and the district, not personal gain or building up a resume to jump to another office. I believe people have had enough of her behavior and she will be recalled.”

Cedano stated some of the reason for the recall include the following:

  • Racial tones to an Antioch Middle School secretary saying she needed a course in bigotry
  • She stated Mary Rocha of being too old, too out of touch and accused her of being a racist
  • She threw keys at a school security officer telling him she would not move her vehicle and that he had to move it for her.
  • She has asked for a process for employees to file complaint against the board rather than approach them during public comments — she notes that is not legal and anyone can approach the board during public comments.
  • She has compared the Antioch Police Department to that of Ferguson, MO
  • Many various stories of her speaking down at staff such as belittling staff by calling them “minions” or “worker bees”.

During the August 24 meeting, Cedano offered the following statement during public comments at the School Board Meeting:

“I want to address the Board of Trustees tonight because there was an incident between Debra Vinson and a staff member at Antioch Middle School yesterday. She was very abusive to her. Just given the fact the fact she was calling her a bigot, rude, she shouldn’t work there.

I would not be surprised if a vote of no confidence was held against her or a recall was started to have her removed. It’s very appalling to have somebody who would use her power in that position to abuse that power to bully staff members. She is an embarrassment to the District and to the community.

If you are going to be a board member, you should be supportive to staff members and the community. This is not the first time she has interfered or bullied staff members. It’s not acceptable and her actions are just ridiculous and disgusting.

She should really take a look in the mirror and resign from her position.”

Cedano says there are other incidents but will save those for the recall which she hopes to begin by mid-October.  She says for now, she is focused on doing it the right way creating a plan, lining up volunteers and ensuring the rules and processes are followed before the clock starts.

“Honestly, several Antioch stakeholders are vying to be the first person to sign including someone who serves on the Antioch City Council. Others include candidates for other races, this school board and even standing board members. But even more that, Antioch staff at all levels want to sign including parents from many schools. It all comes down to the golden rule. Treat people how you want to be treated and Ms. Vinson forgot that after taking her oath of office,” explained Cedano.

Cedano estimates that she will need to collect around 12,000 signatures to be safe, but would like 15,000 to seal the deal.

“Personally, once we have the signatures, I would hope Ms. Vinson simply resigns to save taxpayers money and every local elected official in any office can learn from this situation and not demonstrate such destructive behavior that ruins moral at all levels,” says Cedano.

For those interested in joining the recall effort, you can email [email protected]

Update:

The Antioch Unified School District has confirmed it has completed an investigation into Vinson’s comments with a cost of just over $3,000. The determination was Vinson should issue an apology.

The letter was emailed to the employee by Diane Gibson-Gray after the employee never received it from Vinson. It was uncovered the Vinson had misspelled the employees name in the email address which is why the employee received a delayed apology.

The apology by Vinson stated:

“I am sending this email because I learned that my interaction with you on August 23rd left you feeling that I was rude and not respectful or caring of you as an Antioch Unified Employee. I want to express how troubled I felt when you expressed your feedback of how you felt.  My interactional intent was positive but the impact was negative. I was certainly not my intention or desire to treat you in a manner that was disrespectful or rude and to imply that you are a racist. I value you as an employee of the District. My regrets to you for any hurt that you experienced from the situation! I look forward to more positive interactions with you in the future. Thank you for your service to Antioch Unified School District.

Debra Vinson, MA, DPA, BCPC
Antioch Unified School District

Vinson said she considered the matter closed and has been resolved.


Disclosure: Publisher Mike Burkholder is running for an Antioch school board seat, however, Debra Vinson is not up for re-election this fall and this election does not impact her seat. The views of this article are a recap of what was stated at the School Board Meeting and why a recall effort is being started by Cedano. ECT at this time is not encouraging or discouraging a recall effort, simply providing information.

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9 comments

Watcher Sep 29, 2016 - 7:13 am

Good, this is way past due. She has been a complete train wreck and has all employees nervous per my friend who works at the District. They never know what may set her off or if she will retaliate against them. Glad someone is finally standing up to her. Remember last year, the sweetest lady ever called her out which says something.

Here is what Beverely Knight had to say about her https://eastcountytoday.net/letter-reader-responds-to-comments-made-by-ausd-trustee-debra-vinson/

Jim Simmons Sep 29, 2016 - 7:20 am

I have never been a fan of Vinson but why has none of this information been out in the public? Mary Rocha is far from a racist whether or not I agree with her politics or not. She is all about community and its sad Ms. Vinson is going so negative on her, I don’t support her votes, but I know her heart is in the right place for the community.

I would like to know who Ms. Vinson threatened at the awards dinner. That is a very tight group so I am glad its coming out but the person she threatened should file a police report.

Nancy Fernandez Sep 29, 2016 - 7:34 am

I want to sign that! One of her famous quotes is, “There are no bad students only bad teachers.”.

Tim Sep 29, 2016 - 8:51 am

While her actions are disgusting, she was voted in by the public and her actions do not warrant a recall in my opinion. But she better shape up if she ever wants to serve in a public office again.

Nick Sep 29, 2016 - 9:52 am

Ghetto mentality. Impossible to deal with.

Rivertown Resident Sep 29, 2016 - 10:41 am

This is the worst school board make up I have ever seen in my 28 years of living in Antioch. No wonder why our schools continue to go down hill. Two of the board members were appointed and not even elected. They have done next to nothing. Debra talked a big game and has been a giant negative black eye on the school district. Very few people have said good things about her. Walter is absent and Diane has no control over her fellow board members incompetence. I have little hope in this election things can change. Diane should get a pass, but absolutely no to Fernando and Alonzo because neither even understands the role of a school board member and are wasting district resources time. I hope the recall goes through and get people on there that know what they are doing.

Send the recall papers to the Rivertown area. I want to be sure to sign them.

R/jb Sep 29, 2016 - 10:48 am

Haha! I never trusted Vinson. Remember when she implied it was our duty to entertain the thugs and criminal kids so they won’t do any crime?

She’s a joke and a half. Reminds of one of Harper’s followers.

Get rid of her and do it quickly. What is it with out city leaders? Her and Jeff Belle need to go!

AUSD Teacher Oct 1, 2016 - 7:55 am

Can’t wait to sign!

minion Oct 27, 2016 - 3:45 am

Sadly Vinson appears to suffer delusion of grandeur exacerbated by cognitive dissonance.
Working with Debra Vinson is exhaustive. I, along with others, dread attending any of the multitude of meetings she “must” to gather her self-worth. She is full of naggy and disrespectful little pokes at people.

Debra gleans that she is a leader; producing significant results.. always first in line to assume full credit for other people’s hard work. But the truth remains that she actually seldom produces any actual output at all with regards to groups’ goals and missions. It’s painful to listen to her waiver between shoddy excuses and arrogant exultations.

Comments are closed.