Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District General Counsel pushed back on concerns raised by Texas GOP Senate nominee hopeful and U.S. Congressman Wesley Hunt, saying the district is not hosting the Islamic Games and has not approved any future facility use for the event.
Cy-Fair ISD’s Marney Collins Sims outlined the district’s position in a January 23 email responding to an inquiry from U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, emphasizing that the district is not currently hosting the Islamic Games of Houston and has no facility use agreement in place for 2026.
In the email, obtained by The Dallas Express, Sims thanked Hunt’s office for contacting the district directly and said district leaders welcomed the opportunity to provide “factual information” in response to elected officials’ concerns.
She noted that Cy-Fair ISD had received similar questions from community members, a separate inquiry from a state representative, and a press release from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office asserting that the district was hosting the games.
“As shared in the communication posted to our website on Wednesday, CFISD is not hosting the Islamic Games of Houston, and we do not currently have a facility use agreement for 2026 with the community organization that does host it,” Sims wrote.
Sims said the district will not begin scheduling outside use of its campuses for the 2026–2027 school year until August, after campuses finalize their internal calendars. Any future facility use, she said, would be handled in accordance with district policy and state and federal law.
Responding point by point to questions posed by Hunt, Sims said a nonprofit known as the Islamic Games of North America used district facilities in September 2025 under the district’s standard facility use policy for non-school events. She wrote that the organization has expressed interest in using district facilities again, but has not submitted an application, and none will be accepted until August 2026.
Sims also addressed concerns about vetting, writing that the district requires outside users to meet facility use guidelines, including insurance coverage and paid district supervision. She said the district does not require groups to disclose information about affiliates, donors, or sponsors as part of that process.
“The Islamic Games of North America, a recognized nonprofit organization, is not to the District’s knowledge identified as a foreign terrorist organization,” Sims wrote, adding that the district is not aware of any facility user that has been identified as such under state or federal law.
Regarding compliance with Texas Government Code Section 2252.152, which restricts government contracts with entities identified as foreign terrorist organizations, Sims said the district requires vendors to complete an affidavit certifying they are eligible to do business with governmental entities in Texas and do not fall under any prohibited categories.
The email came amid escalating scrutiny from state and federal officials after Abbott sent a January 21 letter demanding that Cy-Fair ISD halt any negotiations related to the Islamic Games and preserve records tied to the event. Abbott warned that the Texas Education Agency could seek district communications and refer findings to Attorney General Ken Paxton for potential legal action.
Paxton previously told The Dallas Express, “Absolutely no school should be hosting ‘Islamic Games’ and associating itself with individuals with documented ties to Islamic extremists… I will continue to do everything in my power to stop the infiltration of radical Islamist terrorist groups, including continuing to aggressively defend the lawful declaration that CAIR is a foreign terrorist organization.”
Hunt had also told the outlet, “As a combat veteran who served in the Middle East, I understand firsthand the threat posed by foreign terrorist organizations and the importance of ensuring they never gain a foothold in our country… At present, it remains unclear whether those involved in the proposed ‘Islamic Games’ have any affiliation with such organizations or whether all statutory prohibitions and safeguards have been fully satisfied.”
Hunt’s statement came after he had sent a formal letter to Cy-Fair ISD Superintendent Dr. Douglas Killian on January 21 seeking clarification on whether facilities had been approved for the event and what safeguards were in place to ensure compliance with state law, DX reported.
Sims closed her response by stressing the district’s preference for direct communication with elected officials, calling it “a much more collaborative and transparent way to work together.”
