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Parents, students and teachers press HISD over suspensions, alleged misconduct at Wharton and loss of librarians
Summary
Dozens of public commenters at the Feb. 13 board meeting demanded reversal of suspensions for student protesters, asked the district to keep ICE off campuses, called for the removal of principals accused of creating toxic work environments, and described lost library access after librarian departures.
Dozens of parents, students and staff addressed the Houston ISD Board of Managers on Feb. 13 to urge the district to rescind suspensions of student protesters, to prevent immigration enforcement actions on campuses and to investigate or remove principals accused by speakers of creating unsafe or toxic school climates.
Several speakers said 45 Northside High School students were suspended after a Feb. 7 walkout against immigration enforcement and district policy. Petitioners told the board they had delivered a signed petition calling for the suspensions to be dropped and for protections that would keep ICE out of schools. Speakers cited the district’s student code of conduct and the First Amendment while arguing that peaceful protest did not justify suspensions.
Multiple parents and staff singled out the principal of Wharton Dual Language Academy, Veronica Celedon, alleging a pattern of poor leadership, staff departures and declining campus morale. More than one commenter said teachers and administrators had left or were considering leaving Wharton in recent months and asked the board to reassign or remove the principal.
Other speakers focused on library access and staffing. Students and parents described librarians being removed from campuses and said the loss of full books and librarian support has damaged literacy instruction at some schools. A student speaker said his younger sibling had gone 100 school days without access to a librarian.
Several speakers also raised complaints beyond personnel: allegations that some teachers were facilitating student social transitions without parental consent at one high school; concerns over curriculum quality and the use of AI‑generated instructional slides; and wide‑ranging criticism of the district’s approach to NES and scripted materials.
District officials did not announce immediate personnel actions at the meeting. Trustees and staff said they will continue to review personnel and conduct matters through appropriate administrative processes. The board did not vote on suspensions during open session; public petitioners and speakers urged trustees to take administrative steps to remove disciplinary marks from students’ records and to address campus leadership issues promptly.
Public comment included students who spoke in person and by Zoom, community groups including the Houston Education Association and Southeast Texas Brown Berets, and multiple parents who described direct experiences at Wharton and other campuses.
