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Midland ISD denies community member’s complaint over public‑comment removal after hearing
Summary
After a 15‑minute presentation and questions, the Midland ISD Board voted to deny a community member’s request for relief relating to the early termination of a public comment and subsequent removal from the auditorium; the board recorded the vote as 5 in favor, 4 opposed, and 1 abstention.
After a public presentation and trustee questions on March 18, 2026, the Midland ISD Board of Trustees voted to deny the relief requested in a community‑member complaint alleging an improper termination of public comment and removal from the meeting. The board reconvened in open session at about 6:59 p.m. and the chair announced the motion to deny the relief carried, recorded as 5 in favor, 4 opposed and 1 abstention.
The complainant, identified during the hearing as Mister Inojos, told trustees he was interrupted during public comment at a board meeting on Oct. 23, 2025, and that his comment time was ended before the allotted time elapsed. He cited YouTube timestamps (about 47:57; 50:35; 54:51) and alleged Vice President Josh Gwynn interrupted his comment; he further alleged that President Hodges then declared his time ended and that a district police officer relocated him at the presiding officer’s direction without a stated policy violation or prior warning.
In the presentation the complainant requested the board make explicit findings identifying any local policy provision (BED local) relied upon to terminate his comment, documentation of law‑enforcement involvement, clarification of presiding‑officer authority over audience members, and consideration of procedural safeguards such as on‑record identification of the rule and warnings before termination.
Board counsel Mark Goulet told trustees their review was limited to the record developed at prior grievance levels and that there would be no separate administrative response in this proceeding. Trustees asked procedural questions and requested copies of the materials; counsel confirmed the board would deliberate consistent with board policy and then vote in open session. The board ultimately voted to deny the relief requested by the complainant.
The board did not make additional findings in open session beyond announcing the result. The meeting adjourned at roughly 7:00 p.m.
