Lancaster ISD board grants superintendent's grievance, refers Trustee Whitfield to Dallas County DA

The Lancaster Independent School District Board of Trustees on April 24 voted to grant a grievance filed by Superintendent Dr. Pereira and directed board counsel to prepare a referral to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office seeking possible removal of Trustee Tamika Whitfield from office.

The board adopted a written resolution after a closed hearing on a grievance filed March 19 by Dr. Pereira alleging Whitfield’s conduct had interfered with the superintendent’s ability to perform her duties. The resolution, read into the record by Board President Taigi Jones, said the board found the grievance’s recitals to be "true and correct," concluded Whitfield’s actions "created a hostile work environment" by making "unreasonable demands for information, leveling charges of misconduct without proof," and causing the district to spend large amounts of resources responding to those actions. The motion to adopt the resolution was moved by Trustee Hamilton and carried with six trustees voting yes and Trustee Whitfield recorded as abstaining.

Why it matters: the board’s action both formally grants an employee grievance from the superintendent and directs a referral under a state statute that permits the district to seek removal of an elected official. The board’s resolution cites district policy DGBA Local and state law as the procedural bases for the grievance and the referral.

Details from the resolution and meeting

The resolution recited the board’s reliance on district policy DGBA Local and cited constitutional and statutory bases for boards to hear grievances. It states the board "carefully considered the facts and law presented" and that because of the findings it would "refer Trustee Whitfield to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office for possible removal from office under Chapter 87, Texas Local Government Code." The resolution also commended Dr. Pereira "for her diligent and effective leadership" and said the board would consider at a later meeting whether to reimburse attorney fees incurred by the superintendent in pursuing the grievance.

Public comment and staff reaction

Multiple current and former Lancaster ISD employees and parents addressed the board during the citizen-comment portion, saying a board member’s public posting of personnel data had exposed private information and harmed staff and students. Romany Pereira (address given during public comment) told the board: "This trustee posted a document containing my personal information to her personal Facebook page and to her public trustee Facebook page." Crystal Cromer, director in special education, said the post "tarnishes the reputation of our department and the hardworking personnel." Dana Mosley, the district chief financial officer, noted district policies and educator ethics requirements that prohibit unauthorized disclosure of personnel or student information.

Superintendent Dr. Pereira, addressing the board after the vote, said: "I am simply out of words and very moved by the level of support." Several trustees offered public apologies or statements: Vice President Kendall Smith apologized for remarks captured in an earlier leaked recording and said she accepted responsibility; Trustee Tamika Whitfield offered a public apology and said the decision to post the information "was the last resort," adding she acted to press for what she described as transparency about alleged nepotism.

What the resolution orders and next steps

The board directed its legal counsel to prepare and submit the referral to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office concerning the conduct described in the March 19 grievance. The resolution characterizes the conduct as "gross ignorance of official duties, gross negligence, and improper discharge of those duties." The board additionally placed the question of reimbursing attorney fees for the superintendent "under advisement" for consideration at a future meeting.

Votes and attribution

Motion: "Move forward with the resolution of the board regarding resolving DGBA local grievance filed by Superintendent Pereira." Mover: Trustee Hamilton. Second: (record shows a second was made). Vote tally: 6 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Trustee Tamika Whitfield). The board president read the full text of the adopted resolution into the record.

Ending

The board read and adopted the resolution during the April 24 meeting and signatories on the printed resolution included President Taigi Jones and the board secretary. The board said counsel will prepare the referral to the DA’s office and will return to the board with any recommended next steps, including a potential future consideration of attorney-fee reimbursement for the superintendent.