Files obtained by the Open Records Project suggest there is a problem with sexual abuse in the Fort Worth Independent School District.
There are more than 20 documented abuse cases, and some of the records have the alleged perpetrators’ names redacted. Two entries in the system have “unknown” listed in the “name” section. Both entries are listed as SXIS.
SXIS is an abbreviation for sexual misconduct in school.
The state case code manual defines this as “Sexual Assault, Continuous Sex Abuse of Young Child, Indecency with a Child.” Around half of the cases were SXIS, and most or all of these perpetrators appeared to be men.
Other transparency issues mired the files.
Nearly every case with an internal intake date was between 2023 and 2024. However, not every case had an internal intake date. Although, logically, pending cases would not have a case “closed” date, numerous closed cases had neither an intake nor a closure date.
The remaining sex abuse cases were marked as IRWSM (Inappropriate Relationship with a Student or Minor) or SXNS (Sexual Misconduct Non-School). The manual defines the former as “Inappropriate Conduct with a Student or Minor, Including Inappropriate Communication, Grooming, or Solicitation of Sexual Conduct or a Romantic Relationship. Ref. Section 21.12(a), Penal Code.” In contrast, the latter is defined as “Sexual Assault, Continuous Sex Abuse of Young Child, Indecency with a Child, Prohibited Sexual Contact, Possession, Sale, Distribution, or Manufacture of Child Pornography, Enticing a Child, Solicitation of a Minor, Public Lewdness, Indecent Exposure, Invasive Visual Recording, Human Trafficking.”
Out of all the abuse cases, only two perpetrators were listed on the “Do Not Hire” registry.
A note at the top of the search function indicates that the Project last updated the records on August 28, 2024.
The Dallas Express reached out to FWISD’s Communications team for comment on why certain information was missing from the records and what was being done to combat sexual abuse in the school system.
A district spokesperson said, “Fort Worth ISD (the “District”) was not the source of the information contained in the document you shared. Accordingly, the District is unable to speak to the specific questions you have related to this data.”
However, the spokesperson said sexual abuse is taken seriously. “The District takes very seriously any incidents of sexual misconduct involving a District employee. District policy requires any employee who suspects or receives direct or indirect notice that a student has or may have experienced prohibited conduct to immediately notify an appropriate District official.”
“The District thoroughly investigates any such reports in accordance with District policy. Additionally, the District provides continuous training to all staff on these issues. The District is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for all of our students and continues to work diligently to prevent any incidents of sexual misconduct in our schools,” the spokesperson added.
The FWISD data in the Open Records Project database was not the worst yet observed by DX. Dallas ISD appeared to have several hundred misconduct cases in recent years, with approximately 150 having some sexual element, DX previously reported.