FLEMING ISLAND — In a public outcry, a crowd of community members rallied to call for District 2 School Board Member Robert Alvero’s resignation at the school board meeting on Jan. 8.
Despite their pleas, the embattled member refused to resign.
At least 100 people showed up to Fleming Island High to express their outrage following the surfacing of racially charged remarks Alvero posted on social media last month.
In a deleted video posted to Facebook, Alvero said that he found the majority of African American people he had been around to be “nasty, rude and problematic.”
“I have had 80% more negative experience with the African American community in this country than with white people,” Alvero said.
Alvero was elected from District 2, but he represents the entire county, where about 18% of the students identify as Black or African American. He was elected to the school board in November 2024.
The post sparked widespread controversy, with many local elected officials calling for Alvero to resign from the school board, citing his words as “hurtful” and “disappointing.” Alvero responded, saying his comments had been taken out of context. He also obtained a civil rights attorney, Anthony Sabbatini, and vowed to retain his position on the board.
Tuesday’s rally began at least an hour before the scheduled 6 p.m. meeting, with an elevated police presence and a number of clergy, activists, civic and community leaders lining the sidewalk with large posters. One sign read “Alvero resign,” while another, in bold letters, read “Clay County deserves better.”
Four members of the school board — Alvero, Chair Erin Skipper, Beth Clark and Ashley Gilhousen — along with Superintendent David Broskie, were present. District 4’s Michele Hanson was absent due to prior obligations. However, she left a statement which Skipper read on her behalf. Hanson said she regretted not being in attendance to hear from constituents.
The meeting quickly shifted into the public comment period. A number of attendees took to the podium, each given three minutes to speak.
Dawn Thompson, Youth Counselor Advisor for the Clay County NAACP, was the first to speak out against Alvero’s comments, likening them to “bias masked as authority.”
“When diversity is absent, children notice it. When it is present, children thrive. We must also acknowledge the broader issues facing this district: trust, accountability, equity and leadership,” she said. “Mr. Alvero, we ask you to please resign. Our children deserve better.”
“We don’t want you. We want you gone. We need you gone,” another said.
Clay County history teacher, Victoria Tompkins, said she currently teaches one of Alvero’s children.
“Words matter. I’m not going to insult you or saying anything that is not a fact. What I am going to do is I am going to promise you that I will continue to teach your child to the best of my ability, my highly effective ability,” she said. “Despite my losing all respect for you after your comments.”
Most comments that followed, including one from a former student, continued to call for Alvero to take accountability and step down; however, one woman called for the community to give Alvero grace.
“What Mr. Alvero said was based on his experience. That’s his opinion. It’s not a popular one, yes it’s not. Could it have been worded different? Yes, it could’ve. But, out of everybody that you guys see sitting in front of you, that’s the only one that showed concern for all the kids that’s in the district,” she said.
One parent spoke on her disappointment of having to discuss Alvero’s “hurtful” comments when she could’ve been celebrating her child. The school showcase and student recognition portions of the meeting were canceled to accommodate the expected large crowd.
“I’m also a parent of two students who attend public schools in Oakleaf. I’m so sad for the reasons I’m here. I was supposed to be here to see my son sing in a concert,” she said.
Broskie, who listened intently as commenters spoke, said, contrary to popular belief, the school board can’t force Alvero out of his position. Gov. Ron DeSantis is the only one who can remove him from office. Broskie added that Alvero’s comments do not reflect the school district’s values.
“Let me just reassure everyone here in the room tonight, the district continues to have a focus on the students of Clay County. That’s truly what we’re focused on,” he said.
Skipper, who released a statement calling for Alvero’s resignation, said she was disappointed that the meeting strayed away from celebrating students. Although Skipper noted on Dec. 21 Facebook post that the board would, in fact, discuss the matter at the meeting.
“I personally am saddened, because this is school business. And our job is student-based. And it’s sad that students couldn’t be here and we couldn’t honor our students. There are so many good things that are going on in our district.”
Alvero, who walked out following public comments but came back shortly after, thanked the crowd for sharing their concerns; however, he said he had already addressed “false allegations.”
“I have nothing to add at this time,” he said. “A school board meeting is not a proper forum to disclose political matters, or personal matters. We should be focused solely on the operation of our school system.”
Alvero added that he is available to speak to anyone with questions or concerns.
Chanda Holsey, who spoke at the meeting and has students in the district, said she expected more from Alvero and the school board as a whole.
“They knew that this was coming. I thought that they could’ve said more to address our comments. I believe that I read that [Chair Skipper] had asked him to resign, but no one said that during the meeting. And I just felt like we were all impassioned…many of us came and expressed our opinions, and the feedback wasn’t given back with that level of passion and understanding. So, that was a little disappointing.”
Sabbatini continues to emphasize that Alvero will not be at the State Board of Education meeting that he was summoned to attend on Jan. 21, saying “no one cares” and he would “be at the beach that day,” according to a quote obtained by News4Jax.