Several parents criticized the Keller ISD board for lack of transparency in discussions on a proposed district split.
KELLER, Texas — It was the first public meeting Keller ISD held since parents and the community learned of a plan to split the district. The message of the night: transparency.
More than 100 speakers addressed the board during four hours of public comment. The meeting drew around 240 people, packing the seating area and forcing dozens to wait outside in an overflow area. Many speakers publicly criticized the board for discussing the potential split behind closed doors.
“The backroom politics must stop now,” one parent said.
“None of us believe that there wasn’t collusion. The proof lies in your utter disregard for the law,” Laney Hawes, whose children attend Keller ISD schools, said. “I challenge you, Charles Randklev to find your soul, and for the first time ever make me wrong about you and this board.”
Parents learned of the proposed split after rumors began swirling last week. Trustees Joni Shaw Smith and Chelsea Kelly issued statements on social media, where they confirmed the rumors of potentially splitting the district were true. Smith said she was blindsided when they first heard about the proposal during the executive session of the board’s meeting on Dec. 19.
“As voters, we deserve clarity and transparency every step of this process,” one parent said during Thursday’s special meeting.
“You continue to act behind closed doors to advance your wants, regardless of what our students need,” another parent said.
The district of 34,000 students covers Keller and parts of Fort Worth. Some parents are concerned the split would favor the Keller side of the district and hurt those who live in the Alliance area of Fort Worth.
“As a parent, it is terrifying to see the lack of transparency. This needs to be better. Our kids deserve better, so let’s do that,” another parent said.
Several parents said the issue of splitting the district has united parents on both sides of the political aisle. One parent, who voted for several members of the board, said she was disappointed to learn of a plan to split the district.
“I spent hours supporting this board. I counted on you, and you used me and most importantly you used my vote,” she said.
Keller ISD School Board President Dr. Charles Randklev addressed the community as the special meeting began.
“I find the funding challenges facing public education across Texas deeply concerning. These challenges demand bold action,” Randklev said. “Reviewing ideas that would transform our district to meet these challenges is our fiduciary responsibility as Trustees. The reality is no one wants to have this discussion. However, if we take our commitment to all kids seriously, we have no other choice.”
The meeting became heated at one point as parents loudly clapped for each other during public comment. Dr. Randklev asked for the clapping to stop. When some members of the audience verbally challenged him, he called for a recess and walked out of the room, followed by other members of the board. Trustees Smith and Kelly remained in the public meeting.
As the discussion around splitting the district took the community by storm, one parent filed a lawsuit against the district. The lawsuit, filed by Matthew Mucker, who has three children attending Keller ISD schools, claims the school board may have violated the Texas Open Meetings Act on Dec. 19 when trustees discussed the proposed split during an executive session. The lawsuit says the issue must be discussed publicly due to the magnitude of its public impact.
WFAA reached out to Keller ISD about the lawsuit but has not heard back.
One parent, Danielle Doty, spoke out in support of splitting the district. “I believe both communities will be better served by creating two districts,” Doty said.
Several parents called on the board to slow the process down and give the community a chance to vote on the issue in an election.
Whether the board will vote on a resolution to split the district or leave it up to voters remains unclear. No decision was expected during Thursday’s meeting.