Rockwall ISD board affirms Level 2 parent grievance after closed-session hearing

The Rockwall Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to affirm a Level 2 parent grievance following a closed executive session, the board’s president said. The district convened a special session that opened at 6:02 p.m.; the board moved into closed session at about 6:04 p.m. and returned to open session at 9:30 p.m.

The board entered closed session under Texas Government Code §551.071 to consult with legal counsel about a Level 3 parent grievance appeal and under Texas Government Code §§551.074 and 551.0821 for a hearing and deliberation concerning complaints against district staff that included personally identifiable student information, Amy Hilton, board president, said on the record. There were no public comments at the meeting.

After the closed-session consultation, a board member moved that the board “affirm the Level 2 decision,” and asked administration to provide additional corrective steps and information about health insurance that may be applicable to CHEER. The motion was seconded and put to a vote. The vote was recorded in the meeting as “5–4, 1 absent and 1 abstaining,” and the board chair said the grievance matter was concluded.

The motion text stated the board takes the matter “extremely seriously” and expressed sensitivity to the complainants’ concerns. The board also said it would notify the parties to the grievance when the agenda moved to the related hearing item. The transcript identifies the item on the agenda as Item 3: closed meeting items, specifically Item 3(a)(1) for consultation with legal counsel regarding a Level 3 parent grievance appeal and Item 3(b) for the closed hearing regarding complaints and student-identifiable information.

The record includes differing renderings of the name of the motion’s mover (transcribed as both “Mister Ritton” and later as “Mister Britton”). The meeting’s introductory roll call identified trustees and the superintendent, including Amy Hilton, board president; Frank Consselman, board vice president; Dr. Bart Miller, trustee; Jim White, board secretary; Dr. Sherry Packer, superintendent; Dr. John Valerio; Grant DuBois (absent); and Stan Bridal. The transcript does not define CHEER or provide further detail about the grievance allegations in open session.

The board’s statement that administration should provide “additional corrective steps” and information about health insurance applicable to CHEER was recorded on the motion; the meeting record does not specify deadlines or a reporting schedule for that follow-up. The board chair closed the matter by noting the grievance was concluded in that session.

The board cited the statutory provisions that authorize closed deliberations on legal matters and personnel/student-privacy issues. Beyond the direction to administration noted in the motion, the transcript contains no further public description of the allegations, the Level 2 decision’s rationale, or the corrective steps requested. The parties to the grievance were to be notified pursuant to the board’s earlier announcement about the closed hearing schedule.