Republican Mayor Erin Stewart reportedly brushed-off an official censure of a Republican ally on the Board of Education who is running on Stewart’s Republican Party slate.
On September 28th, in a bipartisan 8 to 1 vote, the Board of Education voted to censure Republican Board of Education Member Athena “Tina” Santana, after allegations were made by school employees that appear to indicate that Santana used her position to intimidate and strongarm school employees in an incident on July 12, 2021.
A school employee said that Santana called a school nurse a, “cu*t,” who was, “not doing her job.” A second employee corroborated that Santana referred to the nurse as a, “cu*t”
Both school employees recounted that Santana told school workers that she is on the Board of Education and that they felt intimidated by Santana.
One employee said that, “She (Ms. Santana) said, are you an RN? I said no, an LPN. She (Ms. Santana) then said I got you that job.”
Another employee said, “The guardian (Ms. Santana) then said to me I got you more money, you’re 1186 right?”
A Board of Education Committee consisting of Dr. Violet Jimenez Sims, Joseph Listro and Ms. Gayle Sanders-Connolly reported to the full Board on September 15, 2021 that,
We, the Adhoc Investigation Committee convened for a noticed special meeting today to discuss Board of Education (BOE) Member Athena “Tina” Santana’s Performance. To that end, we reviewed three witness statements in executive session with Ms. Manning and had an opportunity to ask clarifying questions.
With the evidence presented and questions satisfactorily answered by Ms. Manning, the committee came to the conclusion that the evidence supported misconduct on BOE Member Athena “Tina” Santana’s part. Specifically, bylaws state one of the duties of the responsibilities of Board Members is to “avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using his/her Board position for personal or partisan gain” and to “take no private action that will compromise the Board or administration”. As a result, the committee unanimously voted to bring the matter to the full board with a recommendation to motion to censure Tina Santana.
At a special meeting on September 28th, Republican Board of Education Vice President Nick Mercier made the motion,
that the Board censure member Athena “Tina” Santana for conduct that she undertook on July 12th which compromised her role as a Board member by placing her in a position of conflict of interest and for taking action which compromised the Board’s reputation.
The motion was approved 8 to 1.
Santana did not attend the meeting to offer a defense, but the Hartford Courant reported on September 29th that Santana, “said she never tried to use her board membership for leverage in the discussion,” and that she claimed, “I don’t use that word,” adding, “if I swear, I swear in Spanish.”
Stewart was quoted in the same Hartford Courant article brushing off the school employees’ statements and the Board censure, saying, “It’s not surprising that a Democratically controlled board voted to censure a Latina Republican mother of four special needs children simply because she was demanding answers on proper care for her children.” Stewart went on to intimate that the censure was because Santana questions Superintendent Nancy Sarra’s leadership, an accusation the article said Santana made directly.
But the eight Board members voting to censure Santana included both Republicans and Democrats.
Critics have often noted that Stewart frequently tries to dismiss criticism of herself and her allies as, “politics,” so much that the accusation of, “politics,” from the Stewart political machine has become a political trope to generally dismiss criticism of their misconduct or unpopular policies.
Santana, who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education on February 10, 2021, is now a candidate for Board of Education on Stewart’s Republican Party slate in the upcoming November 2nd city elections.
Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25), who is the Democrats’ candidate for Mayor on November 2nd, said,
Frankly, I am confused and disturbed by the Mayor’s response to this issue. From the reports we have heard, it is clear that Ms. Santana’s abusive behavior towards staff was completely inappropriate. Her actions go well beyond politics and no one should ever be bullied or intimidated in the workplace. I have served on our Board of Education and as an educator. I know how hardworking our teachers and school staff are. They have earned our respect and support.
“This is yet another example of Mayor Stewart and the Republicans rushing to defend their loyalists while blaming Democrats for being “partisan” or “political,” Ald. Chris Anderson (D-AL) said on September 30th.
Rep. Sanchez added, “I would also ask the Mayor that if this is political retribution, why was the vote to censure her bipartisan?”
“It is not political to hold elected officials to the highest standard,” Ald. Anderson added. “It is political to ignore damning evidence, to lie, and to point the finger at others when there’s misconduct on your team.”
“This is simply the latest in a series of negligence and incompetence when it comes to dealing with our schools,” Rep. Sanchez said. “The mayor has shown little interest in education during her tenure, and ultimately it is our children that suffer.”
In the statements by the school employees, recounted in a July 13, 2021 memorandum, one was referred to as Employee 1 and the other Employee 2. A third employee was also quoted but said, “I was barely there,” at the incident.
Employee 1 said,
I walked into a conversation that Employee 2 was having with a woman by the name of Santana (Ms. Santana) from the Board of Education. She (Ms. Santana) said, oh so you are the new nurse. My child has (stated diagnosis). I said ok, I will look into the file. It was my first day. Employee 2 supported me (by looking on PowerSchool) and said they didn’t have a warning (medical alert in PS). I said I would be sure to email my boss but she is away on vacation, but I will make sure the warning goes into the system. She (Ms. Santana) then said that she (Jacqui Maddy, District Nursing Supervisor) knew about this and had the diagnosis and paperwork. She said that cu*t, meaning Jacqui and then went off about Jacqui not doing her job. I felt intimidated. She (Ms. Santana) said, are you an RN? I said no, an LPN. She (Ms. Santana) then said I got you that job; you’re welcome. I’m on the Board of Education. I thanked her. Her (Ms. Santana) child is amazing. I got to work with them today. I am nervous about her coming in here. I got the guardian’s medical file from the high school nurse and there is nothing in the file that reflects the diagnosis she stated. I will check file tomorrow as well. Employee 2 told me she (Ms. Santana) was talking about the new Manager of Custodians and how he is sleeping with someone who also works here.
Employee 2 said,
I saw the guardian (Ms. Santana) who dropped off her student for their first day of summer school. I heard her say, who is she, I’m nosey? Are you a nurse? Employee 1 said no, I’m the LPN. The guardian (Ms. Santana) said, just an LPN? I’m on the Board of Education, my name is Tina. My child has medical issues, are they on the list? Employee 1 responded that it was the first day of school and she would check. She shared her guardian’s name and Employee 1 said they were not on the list. I heard swearing and that she called a nurse a cu*t. I heard her say I got you more money, I’m on the Board of Education. The guardian (Ms. Santana) then said to me I got you more money, you’re 1186 right? I said no, I’m a para. She started talking to other people, I tried to change the conversation and introduce Employee 3 the custodian saying how he moved from a temp to a full-time employee. I don’t want this getting out there; I know what she can do.
The censure vote by the Board of Education is an official rebuke, but the Board does not have the authority to remove Santana from office. The City Charter provides that power to the City Council, which is presently controlled 9 to 6 by Stewart’s Republican Party.
Rep. Sanchez added to his comments, saying that, “I was also disappointed to read in the New Britain Herald that our students are struggling adjusting this year because of the disruption the Mayor is causing with administrators.”
“New Britain students, parents, teachers and staff do not deserve this treatment,” Rep. Sanchez said. “I am prepared on day one to bring steady leadership back to our school district and work to ensure every student has a bright future.’
