Second member quits Englewood school board, and he wrote a five-page resignation letter

ENGLEWOOD — Another school board member has abruptly resigned from the city's Board of Education, saying he no longer wished to "remain on a board whose members are not committed to solving the academic problems that have plagued the district for over three decades."

"I cannot be part of a system that divides my people rather than unites us," Donovan Rodriques, who was in his second term on the school board, said in his resignation letter. "I will not subject myself and my family to another three years of uphill struggle, with no positive outcome for the children in the district."

Rodriques formally submitted his resignation letter on May 4, but he publicly posted about his decision on Saturday, calling it "very emotional and hard." He said recent events dashed his hopes of "any real academic progress or any opportunity to work with dedicated, sincere volunteers focused on helping all children in the district."

School board President Sam Trusty abruptly resigned in April, saying he had "done what he set out to do." He was succeeded by David Matthews, who was formerly the vice president.

"The accomplishment I am most proud of is that we created a healthy learning environment for all students," Trusty said last month. "I have no doubt the board will continue these successes in the future."

In his five-page resignation letter, Rodriques described his grievances with Matthews. Among them, he said Matthews displayed "hostility, intolerance, and lack of respect for the administration and teachers in the district."

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Matthews, who said he did not wish to get into an accusation match with Rodriques, wished him well and said the board is focused on improving academic performance.

"That is my total focus," said Matthews. "I'll let the Lord fight my battles for me." 

Rodriques said he joined the school board in 2018 because he felt the trustees were "totally disengaged, dismissive of the people with the courage to speak during public comment: and just voted yes without reading documents or asking questions. He said he believed that he worked to change that culture alongside Trusty and Suzanne Mullings.

With Trusty's departure, Rodriques believes there will be a "reversal of all the progress" that was made toward academic achievement. Rodriques also said Matthews had an "obsession" with the Academies@Englewood as "an institution separate" from Dwight Morrow High School and that Matthews is "determined to keep the DMHS segregated."

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The Academies@Englewood is a magnet high school program that started in 2002 under New Jersey's Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows districts to enroll students from beyond their borders without cost to their parents.

Matthews said Rodriques could say what he wants but "the people on the board know the truth."

"That's the reason I was elected president and he wasn't," Matthews said. 

Candidates to replace Rodriques will most likely be considered at Thursday's meeting, Matthews said. 

Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: noda@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @snoda11