Attorney General Ken Paxton alleged Thursday that Frisco Independent School District violated a temporary restraining order preventing it from engaging in illegal electioneering.
Frisco ISD was first sued by Paxton’s office on February 28 for civil violations over three posts made by a district-affiliated Facebook page that encouraged individuals to “vote for candidates who support public schools and … are against vouchers.”
In addition to permanent injunctions, Paxton sought temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions against Frisco ISD for the questionable practices in light of the Republican Party of Texas primary on March 5.
The 429th District Court in Collin County granted Paxton’s request for a TRO prohibiting Frisco ISD from using government funds or resources to publish statements similar to the original three Facebook posts.
However, Paxton’s office now believes Frisco ISD violated the TRO only four hours after it got handed down when the district used an official X account to post a similar, since-deleted statement.
“The state legislature determines how much money districts can receive. They have not increased that per-student amount since 2019. Since then, we’ve experienced record inflation. Now, FISD is $90 million behind in buying power,” the post read.
A Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decision in 2021 prevents Paxton from going after local school districts on criminal violations. However, he is still allowed to prosecute over civil violations.
The Texas Education Code dictates that the “board of trustees of an independent school district may not use state or local funds or other resources of the district to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure, or political party.”
It also prevents public school funds from being used for any reason other than that permitted in the code and an “officer or employee of a political subdivision” to spend or authorize “public funds for political advertising.”
A Frisco ISD spokesperson previously informed Texas Scorecard that the district does not comment on pending litigation.
Paxton’s office has been actively pursuing electioneering cases this year. Since February, they have filed lawsuits against seven school districts for potentially engaging in the practice.
Apart from Frisco, the other districts targeted are Hutto, Denton, Denison, Castleberry, Huffman, and Aledo.
Frisco ISD is no stranger to controversy.
Last year, leaked video footage showed three Frisco school trustees talking with each other about how to silence the voices of conservative parents and other trustees.
The incident appears to have never received an investigation despite calls for one by State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano).
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