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Pajaro Valley Unified School District grapples with budget cuts and declining enrollment, but Trustee Gabriel Medina’s reckless leadership threatens our schools’ stability. Elected in December 2024 for Trustee Area 3, Medina’s actions have sown division, eroded trust and distracted from student needs, demanding urgent community scrutiny.
On April 16, Medina’s remarks to Jewish community members were condemned as antisemitic, sparking outrage from Superintendent Faris Sabbah and Temple Beth El’s Judy Yokel, who noted the “pain, fear, and anger” inflicted. His bullying tactics, including a closed-session outburst telling a trustee to “shut the f–k up” and taunting another with “Come at me, Barbie!” on May 7, create a toxic board environment. Such behavior, cited in a failed censure resolution, alienates colleagues and stifles collaboration.
Medina’s disregard for governance is glaring. After the censure vote failed, he threatened trustees Olivia Flores and Misty Navarro with a $35,000 defamation lawsuit, a move Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo deemed “appalling” for misusing public resources. His Brown Act violations — leaking closed-session details to the press and proposing motions not on the agenda —show contempt for legal protocols. Staff suffer, too; former chief business officer Jenny Im resigned in March, citing Medina’s disrespectful treatment, while Navarro reported staff fear of retaliation.
Medina’s decisions often defy community will. He opposed school resource officer contracts, despite community support and uses divisive rhetoric that disrupted board proceedings. In January 2025, he blocked a student teacher’s contract over her Christian Bible college affiliation, causing her emotional distress and raising fairness concerns. On July 30, he motioned to reschedule board meetings to suit his new Wednesday work schedule, prioritizing personal convenience over district stability. Former trustee Jane Barr criticized Medina’s focus on personal agendas, arguing it diverts attention from critical student issues.
While Medina retains some support, with signs reading “We stand with Gabe” during the censure debate and backing from figures like Shirley Flores-Munoz, this cannot excuse his disruptive conduct. The censure’s 4-2 failure, with trustees Carol Turley, Jessica Carrasco, Joy Flynn and Medina dissenting, I see as highlighting board dysfunction, but not Medina’s fitness to lead. His actions — controversial remarks, bullying, governance violations and self-serving scheduling demands — undermine PVUSD’s mission.
Our schools need leaders who unite, not divide. Medina’s tenure breeds chaos, not progress. The community must demand accountability. Attend the next board meeting, contact PVUSD or voice your concerns to ensure leadership that prioritizes students over personal crusades.
Michael Lelieur
Santa Cruz