Education
BY GABBY BAILEY
Keller ISD trustees take no action on possible district split
During a special meeting called Jan. 16, the Keller board of trustees met to discuss the possibil- ity of dividing Keller ISD into two school districts. At the conclusion of the meeting, no action was taken and board President Charles Randklev said the next steps include creating a community web- site to share information regarding the feasibility of a district split. Randklev added the board will present the idea to community groups for feedback, as well. “The biggest question we face as a trustee, especially right now, is where do we go from here? Where do we nd more funding?” Place 7 Trustee Heather Washington said. Washington added that $45 million in funding has been cut from Texas school districts over the last two years, including KISD. She said the board will have to make “tough decisions” on how to address the lack of funding. The details While the meeting was open to the public, the trustees and board lawyer Tim Davis went into a closed session to lay out the process of a split. Place 3 Trustee Chelsea Kelly read a prepared statement that claimed Randklev planned to conduct a vote to split the district Jan. 16 from a closed meeting Dec. 19. “What made it worse was nding out this resolution was said to be voted on with no further discussion, community input or planning,” Kelly said. “It felt like a decision that was already made behind closed doors.” Place 4 Trustee John Birt said his recollection of the Dec. 19 meeting was di erent and said the “premature release of conceptual, incomplete information by some of my board colleagues ... allowed political adversaries to prey upon the emotions of parents, citizens and elected o cials.” Place 2 Trustee Joni Smith also read a prepared statement that said she wasn’t involved in the concept of splitting the district. “I’m not saying I’m for or against this,” she said. “How can I? I don’t know the details. Neither do you, and we all deserve that.” Superintendent Tracy Johnson said through tears that she didn’t think the proposed resolution was right and said she was willing to o er her resignation at the end of the special meeting. “I think the timeline [to possibly split the district] is accelerated,” she said. “I don’t think we have the details. I don’t think that we have the answers. If the community decides this is some- thing they want, then we need the time and the
Keller ISD residents and parents listen at the Jan. 16 special meeting as speakers voice their opinions on the school district being divided in two.
PHOTOS BY CODY THORN COMMUNITY IMPACT
right way to gure it out.” What they’re saying
Prior to the closed session, community members spoke on the possibility of dividing the district and what it could mean for KISD parents and residents. Dozens of speakers addressed the board for more than three hours and most expressed their concerns about the board’s lack of transparency. KISD resident and parent Pryor Jordan said he looked at census data from the ZIP codes where the split would occur along US 377 and said the e ect would result in the western district being more disadvantaged. Jordan’s wife, Jerrica Jordan, said this move should have been advertised far ahead of time. “I would have preferred an election petition,” she said. “To do this all behind the scenes, it makes me lose faith in the people we elected.” James Trimm, the district director for State Rep. David Lowe, said their o ce believes residents should be involved in district decisions of this magnitude. Ruthie Keyes, who was on the KISD board of trustees for nearly 12 years before resigning in December 2023, called the proposal “crazy.” Next steps For KISD to be split, several processes must occur. Jake Kobersky, the Texas Education Agency’s director media relations, said TEA is not involved at this time since it is a local issue and dividing a district falls under Chapter 13 of the Texas Education Code.
The Keller ISD board of trustees hold an open discussion with community members before they head into an executive session.
Chapter 13, Subcharter C of the Texas Education Code lists this criteria to create a new district:
The new district must be at least 9 square miles and have at least 8,000 students in daily average attendance. Creating a new district starts with a KISD board resolution, which is sent to the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. Less than 30 days after the commissioners court gets the petition, a hearing is held over the petition’s validity. If the petition is ruled valid, each district will hold a same-day election. At least 25% of voters in each district must vote. If all the requirements are met, the commissioners court shall enter an order creating the new school district. If a new district is created, any property/ debt in the detached territory becomes the property/debt of the new district.
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION CODE COMMUNITY IMPACT
8
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook