Splendora ISD board denies Level Three FNG appeal, upholds Level Two decision 7-0

The Splendora Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7-0 on Jan. 7, 2025, to deny a Level Three appeal of an FNG grievance and to uphold the Level Two decision in its entirety. President Allen Wells moved the motion, which Trustee Jason Sessum seconded; the minutes record the vote as seven in favor and none opposed.

The motion is recorded in the meeting minutes as: "A motion was made by Allen Wells and seconded by Jason Sessum to deny the Level Three appeal and uphold the decision at Level Two in its entirety." The board’s action followed a Level Three hearing, which the minutes note was held in open session at the grievant’s written request.

The board met with a full complement of trustees present: Jennifer Stewart, Dan Muirhead, Barry Welch, Jason Sessum, Allen Wells, Brandon Fry and Kimberly Klepcyk. Dr. Jeff Burke, Splendora ISD Superintendent, was also present. The minutes show the meeting began at 5:32 PM, the board entered closed session earlier that evening for authorized topics, reconvened, and then recorded the motion and vote in open session.

Under the Texas Open Meetings Act language included in the minutes, the board identified authorized closed-session purposes before and after the hearing, including consultation with counsel and personnel matters. The minutes do not record additional remedies or follow-up instructions tied to this motion; the action recorded is the denial of the Level Three appeal and the upholding of the Level Two decision.

The special meeting subsequently entered a second closed session later that evening and adjourned at 8:49 PM.