The Richardson school board president resigned from her position on Friday, Sept. 24. Karen Clardy told her fellow trustees about her resignation in a brief letter.
It was unclear why board president Karen Clardy decided to step down. Still, in a brief letter she sent to Superintendent Jeannie Stone and other trustees on Friday, she referred to the decision to resign as difficult. This decision comes in the middle of the district’s struggles to handle the pandemic.
Richardson ISD is one of the several districts facing a lawsuit by Attorney General Ken Paxton for requiring masks on campuses. Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order banning mask mandates by governmental entities.
Richardson ISD board of trustees has been facing immense pressure from community members over the mask requirements. Many of the members have come under personal attacks due to their views on COVID-19 protocols.
Stone addressed the resignation in a statement. “On behalf of the district, we thank Karen for her service to RISD, both on the Board of Trustees and her 25 years at Lake Highlands High School,” she said in the statement. “Her contributions and commitment to students and teachers have been impactful and real, and we wish her the very, very best moving forward.”
One RISD parent Michelle Meals, expressed displeasure at the board members. “I could just see why anyone would step down at this point. I’m surprised any board members have any energy left to fight right now,” she said. “One of the things I have struggled with is a lot of this feels very anti-public school.”
The board will address Clardy’s resignation at its next meeting. In addition, the board will discuss how to fill the newly vacant seat.