During the July 28 public-comment period at the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD board meeting, two residents addressed the board with distinct concerns: one requested resignation or censure of a trustee for absenteeism and alleged failure of fiduciary duty; the other raised concerns about state legislation and local working conditions for teachers.

Mary Lowe, who identified herself as a resident of GCISD, said she conducted public records requests and concluded that a sitting trustee had missed multiple meetings, including two consecutive regular board meetings and four budget committee meetings. Lowe asked that the trustee resign or, if not, that the board censure the member by removing voting privileges and travel reimbursements and revoking the member’s ability to represent the district at state events. Lowe framed her request as accountability tied to the trustee’s oath and the board’s fiscal oversight role.

Hillary Benedetto of Grapevine told trustees she supports inclusive schools and cited legal action by the ACLU of Texas challenging Senate Bill 12 as an example of state-level threats to safe, inclusive education. Benedetto urged the board to involve students, teachers, paraprofessionals and the community in decisions this school year to maintain staff morale and retention. She criticized a seven-period high-school schedule she described as contributing to teacher exhaustion and described priorities such as teacher wellness policies, citing a mental wellness policy in Bastrop ISD that requires district administrators to substitute at least one day per semester.

Board members did not take action on either public comment. President Braun closed public comment after the two speakers and the board proceeded to other agenda items. The speakers requested no specific board vote in open session beyond the calls for accountability and for broader inclusion of staff and community in decision-making.