KELLER

Keller ISD agenda includes ‘voluntary separation agreement' with superintendent

Two board members shared their shock and concern on social media after a board meeting agenda revealed some sort of leadership change for Keller ISD.

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Keller ISD may be looking for a new superintendent.

New documents for a school board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 30, show the board is considering the resignation of Superintendent Tracey Johnson.

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Johnson made headlines earlier this month when she sided with parents over the majority of the school board and said a proposal to split Keller ISD into two separate school districts was bad for kids.

"I'm sure the President and others officers didn't appreciate her doing that to them, and that's why this is what's happening. So I expected that," said Jorge Rodriguez, who served on Grapevine-Colleyville ISD's school board for 15  years. He says it's not hard to connect the dots on this.

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"They really are intending to do what they want to do. And, you know, these committees and all that is just pretty much for show," he said of the board's promise to have citizen input moving forward.

The controversial proposal would put thousands of students living west of railroad tracks along Highway 377 into a new one.

District leaders cited budget concerns as a primary reason for the proposal, but with all but two parents who spoke at the last board meeting being against the plan, the board promised to take a step back.

"You left feeling like, okay, they hurt everybody. And I feel like they're they're gonna slow it down. But then nothing really came out after that," said Renee Wolan, a parent who lives west of 377, but her children attend school east of that dividing line.

"If they're pushing her out then and she's spoken up and said, 'Hey, I want to do what's right for the students, then what does that look like they're doing?' So that's kind of the concern, but yeah, lack of stability and leadership. I mean, in a time where the district needs it the most," she said of the board.

One agenda item for Thursday’s meeting said the board could act on a voluntary separation agreement with Superintendent Tracy Johnson. It is followed by another item about appointing an interim superintendent.

Superintendent Tracy Johnson had made comments about resigning during a controversial proposal to split the district. NBC 5's Alanna Quillen has the details.

Johnson spoke out during the previous meeting on Jan. 16 and commented about resigning after hearing board members and parents shouting over the issue. It was the first time parents and district leaders gathered in the same room since rumors about the proposal surfaced.

“It's been a huge distraction, a distraction that is not needed right now at this time of the year or ever. We have staff members that are worried about whether or not they're going to have a job, and that hurts my heart because, as an educator of 25 years,” she told the crowd. "I'll be honest, I don't know that I want to be a part of it and so I am prepared to offer my letter of resignation. And I'm not doing that for theatrics, but I'm doing it because I've been in education for all kids, and I believe that every child has an opportunity to learn, and I think every child has an opportunity to attend schools in Keller ISD.”

Since this week's agenda was posted, at least two board members have responded on social media, saying they feel blindsided.

Joni Smith, Keller ISD Board of Trustees Place 2, wrote on Facebook Monday night that the items were not included in an agenda she reviewed with Johnson that morning.

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Chelsea Kelley, board member for Place 4, also shared the same sentiments as Smith on social media, saying she and Smith felt "left in the dark" regarding a significant decision in the district.

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On Tuesday morning, Tarrant County Commissioners also appear to be set to talk about the Keller ISD debate. Their meeting agenda has a briefing about state rules and requirements surrounding a school district split.

Keller ISD will meet again Thursday night, the district says they have a webpage up discussing the need for the split but no information on committee meetings for community input.

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