Leander ISD grievance committee denies most requests from Trustee Paul Gauthier after public hearing

A Leander Independent School District grievance committee voted 3-0 on July 14 to deny most of Trustee Paul Gauthier’s requested relief after a public hearing in which Gauthier accused the district and fellow trustees of treating him differently and violating his civil rights.

The three-member panel — Anna Smith (board president), Trish Bode and Shadi Fashukan — heard testimony from Gauthier, supporters and administrators, questioned the parties about specific incidents and reviewed prior board actions that placed limits on unscheduled trustee visits to campuses. After consulting with counsel in closed session, the committee returned to open session and approved a motion to deny the remainder of Gauthier’s requests; the committee said it will issue a written decision within 30 days.

Gauthier used his presentation time to describe a pattern of what he said was unequal treatment: being escorted at central office, being removed from committees and being told he could face criminal trespass charges if he accessed campuses without prior coordination. “I take this job very seriously, and I take my civil rights are not ended when I walk through these doors,” he told the committee.

Supporters who spoke during the public-comment period argued the committee should not hear the grievance because they said committee members were implicated in the underlying events and should recuse themselves. Brandy Berkman told the committee that the board’s recusal language and the grievance policy could require escalation to the Texas Education Agency in some circumstances.

Administrators and several committee members pushed back on Gauthier’s characterization and emphasized policy and safety reasons for the visit procedures. “For a requested visit, they arrange that through the superintendent’s office, and the point of contact is Cindy Anderson to make an arrangement,” the superintendent told the committee, describing how principals and department leaders compile invitations and how the district coordinates visits to avoid disrupting campus operations.

Committee members also reviewed prior board action. The panel cited a May 23, 2024 motion that amended local policy to restrict unscheduled trustee visits and authorized administrative steps — including removal from committees and, in some cases, referral to law enforcement — if a trustee repeatedly disregarded the board operating procedures. Board president Anna Smith and other members described earlier incidents that district leaders say disrupted staff and operations.

Legal and policy arguments featured prominently in questioning. A parent commenter, Daniel Chang, urged the committee to keep the hearing open and cited the Texas Open Meetings Act’s limits on closed sessions. During deliberations, the committee’s motion to deny the remaining relief cited the board’s authority under local policy and state education code to require continuing education and to take corrective actions for willful violations.

After the administration and trustees questioned the grievant and each other, the committee entered a short closed session to consult with counsel under Texas Government Code section 551.071 and returned saying no action was taken while closed. Trish Bode then moved “that we deny the remainder of the request Trustee Gauthier has requested,” the motion was seconded, and the committee recorded a voice vote of three ayes.

The committee noted that two items of relief had already been provided to Gauthier and that it needed to decide three remaining numbered requests; it denied those remaining requests in the motion. The panel reiterated that, because the hearing was an initial grievance review and there was no written decision in the record, it must issue a written decision on the matter within 30 days.

The meeting record shows the Texas Education Agency later dismissed a related TEA complaint that had been raised in testimony. The administration told the committee it had documented staff concerns about an unscheduled presence by Gauthier at New Hope High School and had followed up; the superintendent also said he had connected Gauthier with the New Hope principal to assist a family on a diploma inquiry.

The committee adjourned after the vote. No further action was taken at the meeting, and the written decision that memorializes the committee’s findings and remedies is expected within the 30-day timeframe required by district procedure.