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Local pastor tells Bastrop ISD trustees he sued over alleged Open Meetings Act violations
Summary
During public comment, pastor Jeremy Story told the board he filed a lawsuit alleging the board violated the Texas Open Meetings Act in a prior trustee appointment and offered a settlement that would rescind the appointment and require 30 days' public notice for future vacancy appointments.
Jeremy Story, a local pastor who identified himself during the board's open forum, told Bastrop ISD trustees he has filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act related to a June 11 trustee appointment. Story said the suit is not about the appointee's qualifications but about transparency and process.
"Toma was violated," Story said at the meeting and described the appointment process as occurring through behind-the-scenes conversations among a quorum of board members. He asked the board to rescind the June 11 appointment of Josh Korg, adopt a written policy providing a minimum of 30 days' public notice and opportunity for input before future vacancy appointments, produce communications related to prior appointments and reimburse his legal costs to date as a settlement offer.
Other public commenters urged transparency and offered community help: Luis DeRusso told the board he would volunteer to tutor students and asked that the district publicize its improvement plan, and Deborah Carter requested a written response to a June 11 comment and offered organizational assistance.
Why it matters: Story's allegations invoke the Texas Open Meetings Act and seek structural changes to how the district fills board vacancies. The board did not rebut the specific legal claim during the public comment period and later proceeded with closed-session personnel action and an interim appointment.
What the transcript records: Story laid out his allegations and a settlement proposal publicly. No on-the-record board response refuting the allegation appears in the transcript; the board later took personnel action in closed session and named an interim superintendent in open session.
Next steps and limits: Allegations about TOMA violations are a legal matter. The transcript records Story's claim that he has filed suit; it does not record a court ruling. The board's actions in closed session and subsequent appointment were recorded in the meeting minutes.
