Plano ISD trustees deny two level‑3 grievances, uphold change limiting non‑agenda public comment

Plano ISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 23 denied two level‑3 grievances challenging district procedures for public comment and related conduct, voting to uphold the board'adopted change to policy BED Local that limits public comment at regular meetings to posted agenda items.

The action came after public comments from parents and a formal grievance hearing in which complainant Justin Bennett argued the revised policy and the district'ads "community input" meetings undermine timely public participation and may violate provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act. The board voted to deny Bennett'ads grievance by voice/hand vote; trustees recorded six votes in favor and one abstention. Separately, the board denied a level‑3 grievance filed by Cody Weaver; that motion also passed with one abstention.

The dispute centers on a BED Local amendment the board adopted Aug. 19, 2025, that narrows regular meeting public‑comment to agenda items and moves non‑agenda topics into separate community input meetings. Justin Bennett, who identified himself as "a parent of three students in Plano ISD," told the board the policy change removes a long‑standing avenue for community members to speak at the meetings "where decisions are actually made" and forces stakeholders into sessions that, in his view, are "disconnected from board decision making." Bennett cited multiple provisions of the Texas Government Code during his…