A parent sued the district, alleging the school failed to disclose public records and misled the public.
CARROLLTON, Texas — A parent is suing Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, alleging the district intentionally withheld information from parents before it voted to close schools last week.
Clifford Henson, whose child previously attended McCoy Elementary School, is suing to force the district to release documents related to the closure of his child’s school, according to a lawsuit filed in Dallas County.
The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Board of Trustees voted to close four schools: Central Elementary, McCoy Elementary, Furneaux Elementary and Long Middle School, WFAA previously reported. Students and parents spoke against the proposed closures Thursday, saying the decision was rushed and the decision-making process was opaque.
In the lawsuit, Henson claimed the district failed to release documents requested under the Texas Public Information Act.
In a statement, the district said it does not comment on pending litigation.
“This is a hard decision. I understand the emotion that these parents have,” CFBISD School Board President Randy Schackmann previously said of the closures. “But I hope that they will also be gracious enough to understand that our board is looking at a long term solution and a long term process that will make us available for, academic excellence.”
Henson requested communications and documents exchanged between the district’s consultant, who was hired by the district to advise on school closures, and any member of the board.
The district had 10 business days to either fulfill Henson’s request for documents related to the closures or request a ruling from Attorney General Ken Paxton on whether or not the documents were eligible for release.
The lawsuit claims that the district initially said it needed more time to gather the documents, requesting a ruling from the attorney general, then later claimed that no relevant documents existed and withdrew its request for an opinion.
Henson argued relevant documents do exist and the district is unlawfully withholding them.
“On information and belief, instead of promptly acting to provide the requested information as required by law, CFBISD attempted to ‘run out the clock’ by engaging in delaying tactics to leave Petitioner and others similarly situated unable to utilize any responsive documents in their campaign to mobilize the public against the proposal,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit also claims that the decision to close McCoy Elementary will compel his child to attend one of three “significantly inferior elementary schools,” the lawsuit states.
“CFBISD blindsided district parents by announcing that it proposed to close McCoy Elementary School as part of a school consolidation scheme,” the lawsuit states. “There was no expectation by parents or the community at large that McCoy would be considered for consolidation because McCoy is the highest-performing elementary school in the District by a significant margin.”
According to the Texas Government Code, a requester may file a lawsuit to force a governmental body to make information to the public if the governmental body refuses to request an attorney’s general opinion, the lawsuit states.
Henson is asking the court to force the district to release any presentation or document exchanged between the school district and its consultant.
