A long-running conflict between a trustee and the North Texas School Board came to a head during a special meeting on Tuesday.
The McKinney ISD School Board voted 6-1 to censure trustee Chad Green for “violating the board’s operating protocols and policies.”
At the beginning of May, the board passed a resolution that called on Green to offer his resignation.
The actions came after alleged misconduct at a campus event in March and a rally where Green asked members of the board and the superintendent to take books out of district libraries that were obscene. Board President Amy Dankel described this request as “racist.”
According to the censure resolution, Green will need to procure written approval to visit any McKinney Independent School District campus. He will also need an escort from another board member throughout the following year.
The measure also “publicly denounces” actions that Green took and orders him to “cease all actions that have negatively impacted McKinney ISD’s students, parents, staff, community, and the Board.”
Mike Giles, a McKinney resident, said, “I can’t believe this witch hunt has gone this far.”
Giles has been an activist for several years and supported Green at the meeting on Tuesday. More than 20 other people also spoke in support of Green at the meeting before the board took its vote.
Several speakers at the meeting stated that Green was the only person listening to their concerns about material in the libraries. They argued that the objectionable material is sexually explicit and that Green is being targeted because he represents their concerns.
Green has considerable support in McKinney. Jessica Hulcy has grandchildren in the school district, and she stated that Green is the “kids’ only advocate” on the board.
Jeff Hall, another Green supporter, stated, “You have a lot of work to do, and this isn’t a good use of your resources.”
Green was elected to the board last year after campaigning on transparency for the taxpayers and giving parents the power to voice their opinions on district matters. He and other board members have been at odds over how the board should address the district’s book issues.
According to Green, if a book is deemed obscene, it should be removed immediately while it is reviewed. Currently, questionable books remain on shelves during the review process.
The debate has created such an atmosphere of tension that law enforcement is now present at board meetings. On Tuesday, seven cars from the police department were parked outside of the venue where the board holds its meetings.