Montgomery ISD board upholds Level 2 grievance in Bells dance director dispute, directs superintendent to review program culture

The Montgomery Independent School District Board of Trustees on June 24 voted to uphold the Level 2 grievance related to allegations about the Montgomery High School Bells dance director and directed the superintendent to begin immediate work to address program culture and district processes.

Parents and students used the board's public comment period to describe a pattern of favoritism, inconsistent discipline and hostile conduct by the dance director. Shane Webb, who identified himself as the parent of three MISD students including two at Montgomery High School, said parents and dancers had submitted evidence and testimony and urged a leadership change. A former MISD employee and former Junior Bells director, who identified herself only as Alyssa, read a written statement on behalf of a current student describing unequal treatment, lack of instruction and a hostile environment. A parent identified in the meeting as Lyle described repeated incidents he said went unresolved by school administrators; student lieutenant colonel Adeline Ward said the atmosphere had undermined her confidence and that she had seen peers discouraged from participating in additional activities for financial reasons.

The board left the room for a closed session authorized under the Texas Open Meetings Act to hear the grievance appeal. When it returned to open session, a motion to "uphold the Level 2 grievance as heard" carried. The board's public statement said the decision affirms the decisions made at Level 1 and Level 2 and reflects the board's conclusion that the grievance process was followed. The board also said it had heard and taken to heart the community comments and that it was directing the superintendent to engage in "direct and timely conversations to ensure improvement in the systems, processes, and the culture of the program," including setting clearer expectations to ensure students are "emotionally secure and able to thrive."

Board members recorded several abstentions. One trustee said on the record she abstained because her daughter is on the dance team; another said she abstained because a medical emergency prevented her participation in the grievance hearing. The board said the December grievance record and evidence from Levels 1 and 2 limited the scope of what it could consider in the appeal; it also repeated that personnel and HR decisions remain administrative responsibilities and were not being decided by the board in this session.

The board's action does not announce any immediate independent employment discipline in public session; the board explicitly directed administrative follow-up and additional conversations to address culture, process and communication concerns.

The board adjourned the session after reading its statement and confirming next steps for superintendent-led follow-up.