Following the recent publication of undercover footage from a meeting with three Frisco Independent School District trustees, State Rep. Matt Shaheen of Plano has requested that the Texas Education Agency launch an investigation into the FISD trustees present.
The footage revealed trustees René Archambault, Dynette Davis, and Debbie Gillespie conspiring with liberal-leaning parents in the meeting to silence conservative parents, students, educators, and fellow FISD trustees.
At one point in the meeting, the trustees were joined by parents in mocking Shaheen.
“Matt Shaheen, he’s not that smart,” said Gillespie.
Some individuals present agreed with Gillespie’s statements. Others said Shaheen was a failure and incapable of moving conservative legislation.
In his request for an investigation, Shaheen did not specifically mention the insults made about him.
Instead, he said he made the request based on his constituents’ concerns that the trustees potentially violated policies both through the conduct of the meeting and the content of discussions throughout the meeting.
“I have grave concerns about the [trustees’] conduct and the serious nature of this meeting,” said Shaheen.
“The [trustees’] commentary in the recording demonstrates a complete lack of concern for parental concerns and seems to violate Frisco ISD’s Board Operating Procedures and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Ethics for School Board Members,” Shaheen added.
One of the policies the trustees were accused of violating from the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees Operating Procedures says:
If two (2) or more Trustees request that an item be included on the agenda, the Superintendent shall add the item to an agenda for a Board meeting at an appropriate time in the near future, not to exceed sixty (60) days after the Superintendent receives the request from the second Trustee. The Board President shall not have the authority to remove an item placed on an agenda upon request of two (2) or more Trustees.
According to Shaheen, the video and audio footage were proof that the policies were violated, which prompted him to request an investigation into the FISD trustees by the Texas Education Agency.
“I look forward to the TEA providing clarification on this important matter to ensure these Frisco ISD School Board Members are in compliance with applicable laws, rules, policies, and governance procedures, and that parents have a voice in their children’s education,” said Shaheen.
