Resolution of Behalf of Trustee
Resolution on Behalf of Trustee Michael Gonzales and the New Haven Unified School District Board
The New Haven Teacher Association holds all the current New Haven Unified School District Board members in high regard. We recognize their commitment to students and their education, and we look forward to continued collaborative efforts and progress for our students. We are deeply disheartened by recent events that have created uncertainty and division in our community. While there have been public accusations against Trustee Michael Gonzales alleging he does not live in Area 3, which he represents, we call upon members of the New Haven community to allow the legal process to play out.
Many of the Amendments from The Constitution, including the Fifth and Fourteenth, guarantee the presumption of innocence and right to due process. This is the bedrock of any free society, and NHTA believes it must be afforded to everyone in our New Haven community - our students, parents, educators and staff, board members and their executive staff. Trustee Michael Gonzales maintains these allegations are baseless and we would encourage the entire school community to reserve judgement while legal proceedings play out.
NHTA values community representation of Trustees and prioritizes the vetting of all NHTA endorsed candidates. Trustee Gonzales’ leadership in the School Board reflects the diverse community of Union City, including its significant Latino population. Trustee Gonzales attended New Haven Unified Schools as a student and his parents did as well and he clearly has deep roots in his community.
Therefore be it so resolved that NHTA affirms Trustee Michael Gonzales’ right to due process, recognizes his deep ties to his community and be it so resolved barring any substantial evidence or conviction of wrongdoing, we maintain our wholehearted support for Trustee Michael Gonzales.
We ask that all the Trustees, who we respect for their support of students and their education, would come together collaboratively in a way that affirms our shared values of dignity for our students, their classrooms, homes and the broader community