Texas House Rep. Matt Shaheen has requested that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) investigate three school board members of the Frisco Independent School District (FISD) over possible violations of the board’s operating procedures.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, leaked audio and video footage show FISD Board President René Archambault, Trustee Dynette Davis, and Trustee Debbie Gillespie meeting with constituents at a local coffee shop.
For more than half an hour, the trustees fielded questions and briefly discussed how they plan on holding meetings having to do with transgender students during the afternoon when members of the public are less likely to attend.
“I have grave concerns about the Trustee’s conduct and the serious nature of this meeting. The Trustees commentary in the recording demonstrates a complete lack of concern for parental concerns and seems to violate Frisco ISD’s Board Operating Procedures and Texas Association of School Boards (‘TASB’) Ethics for School Board Members,” Shaheen stated, per a press release.
During the meeting, the trustees and their constituents discussed how at least Archambault was using her position to delay agenda items proposed by the board’s two conservative trustees: Marvin Lowe and Stephanie Elad.
“They want it on regular board meetings because it’s a show. If they ask for anything transgender policy going forward, it’ll be in a special meeting in the middle of the day that nobody goes to,” said Archambault, who subsequently went on to defend her comments to The Dallas Morning News.
“Our boardroom has become a place of unrest over the past year. It is not uncommon for board meetings to be held in the middle of the day to conduct board business … Parents have been scared to send kids to our board meetings, some are highly contentious. It doesn’t have to be a circus every month. This isn’t about limiting a parent’s voice, it’s about protecting our students and our staff when the board meets to discuss contentious items,” she told The Dallas Morning News.
It is currently unclear whether the three trustees actually violated any written policies governing their conduct as school board members.
“I look forward to the TEA providing clarification on this important matter to ensure these Frisco ISD School Board Members are in compliance with applicable laws, rules, policies, and governance procedures, and that parents have a voice in their children’s education,” said Shaheen.