Johnson expressed she was against the idea of splitting the district and even offered to resign if the plan moved forward.
KELLER, Texas — Keller ISD’s board is scheduled to discuss a “voluntary separation” agreement from its superintendent, Tracy Johnson, this week.
The potential separation comes less than two weeks after a heated meeting between the Keller ISD Board of Trustees and parents. Trustees called a special meeting on Jan. 17 after rumors swirled that the district might split in half.
During the meeting, Johnson expressed her opposition to splitting Keller ISD and expressed her desire not to be involved in the controversial decision. She even offered to resign if the plan proceeded.
“I am prepared to offer my letter of resignation and retirement,” Johnson said.
In a Monday statement to WFAA, Trustee Joni Smith said she was devasted to learn about the potential voluntary separation agreement with Johnson.
“I was once again blindsided to see this item added to the posted agenda, as it was not included in the agenda I reviewed with Dr. Johnson this morning. I have no information about the reasoning behind this agenda item or any plans for interim leadership.
I am devastated by this unexpected development and want to make it clear that I wholeheartedly support Dr. Johnson. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to doing what is right for the students and the district. Dr. Johnson is the right leader for Keller ISD, and I firmly believe that her continued leadership is critical for our community. In light of the turmoil our community has faced, the best path forward for Keller ISD is stability.
I cannot and will not support a leadership change at this time. Our students, staff, and families deserve steady, experienced guidance, and I remain committed to advocating for what is in the best interest of our entire district.”
Hundreds of parents have also spoken out against the district split.
As the discussion around splitting the district took the community by storm, one parent filed a lawsuit against school board members. The lawsuit 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 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.
The Keller ISD board is set to discuss Johnson’s separation agreement and name an interim superintendent during its Jan. 30 meeting.
Keller ISD, School Board President Charles Randklev and Johnson did not respond to WFAA’s request for comment on Monday.
