Resident accuses COMAL ISD of muting livestream, sealing records during public comment

Kevin Samuelson addressed the COMAL ISD Board during the public‑comment period to accuse the district of selectively silencing criticism and hiding records. “Instead of transparency, the district chose silence,” Samuelson said, alleging threats to alter medical files, medical fraud, whistleblower retaliation and theft affecting approximately 75 students and accusing the district of muting his audio on a previous livestream.

Samuelson told trustees that, in his view, the district’s posture has escalated beyond a single meeting: “The district believes it can open public comment, broadcast public comment, and then selectively cut off criticism online while still claiming it allowed the speaker to speak,” he said, calling that approach “not transparency” but control.

He also said the district has sealed requested records on legal fees and argued in court that it had no obligation to amplify his speech online. Samuelson asked how much public money COMAL ISD is spending on private lawyers to defend that position and said those payment records had been sealed.

The board did not respond during public comment, consistent with the meeting rules that the chair outlined at the start of the meeting. Trustees heard the remarks during the public‑comment agenda item; no board action or formal response to Samuelson’s allegations was recorded at the meeting.

The board’s earlier opening remarks referenced compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and the rules governing public comment; the transcript does not record staff or counsel answering Samuelson’s specific claims during the open session. The district’s published agenda and board procedures (as read aloud by President Courtney Biasotti at the start of the meeting) note that board members will listen but not respond to public‑comment speakers at that time.