Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD parents, community members sue after 4 schools closed
A group of parents is suing Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, alleging that violations of state transparency and nepotism laws contributed to the closure of four schools.
The lawsuit, filed by 13 community members, including , claims school officials and trustees violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by discussing school closures in private and failing to provide adequate public notice.
Transparency concerns raised
"We understand that in this environment, closures are probably necessary, but if we don't actually understand the basis for those closures, it's very difficult to accept that good community schools have to go," said Candace Valenzuela, a CFBISD parent and one of the plaintiffs. "We need to have that discussion out in public, and it is a legal requirement that that discussion happens out in public."
In March, the CFBISD school board voted to shut down McCoy Elementary, Furneaux Elementary, Central Elementary and Long Middle School due to a lack of state funding. The schools closed at the end of the school year.
Comparisons to nearby districts
Valenzuela said the group had been monitoring how other districts handled similar situations.
"We've been paying attention to what's been going on in neighboring districts," she said. "We looked at the closures happening in Coppell. We looked at the closures happening in Lewisville. And the big difference was that they were having these discussions a year or so ago out in the open with the public."
Calls for leadership removal
The plaintiffs are also calling for the removal of board members Randy Schackmann, Kim Brady, Cassandra Hatfield, Ileana Garza-Rojas and Marjorie Barnes, along with Superintendent Dr. Wendy Eldredge. They allege these officials deliberately concealed critical information from the public.
"And so we can't just sit back and be quiet as we know that things are happening, especially illegal things happening in our district central office," Valenzuela said. "We need to make sure that our district is doing what it needs to do and serve our children first and foremost."
Nepotism allegations detailed
The lawsuit also claims that school officials hired or promoted family members into newly created or elevated positions with significant pay raises, without proper disclosure or board votes. According to the suit, Eldredge hired a board member's wife for a new position and another board member's son as her assistant.
"It's important for elected officials at every level to be working hard for the public trust and, especially school board trustees, to put our children and everybody who cares for them, who teaches them, who nurtures them first and foremost," Valenzuela said. "That is the only reason they're there. And if they can't do that, they shouldn't be in office."
In the lawsuit, several of the parents said they chose to move into their homes or move into their neighborhoods because of the highly-rated schools.
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Earlier this year, a group of parents encouraged others to vote in the school bond election after they said they were blindsided by the decision to close four schools within their district.
Court considers further action
A judge denied the plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order against the closures but will consider a temporary and permanent injunction, along with a declaratory judgment to restore the district to the status quo.
CBS News Texas reached out to CFBISD and the trustees named in the lawsuit. The district responded with a statement: "The district has received a lawsuit and does not comment on pending litigation."
North Texas districts face closures
CFBISD wasn't the only North Texas school district faced with closing campuses.
Coppell, Lewisville, Plano and Richardson ISDs have approved plans to close schools in their respective districts in the past year. Fort Worth ISD is currently considering shuttering more than 20 campuses. Other districts have reduced staffing and made program cuts to help balance the books.
