Moody ISD board votes to propose nonrenewal of teacher Selina Owens’ contract

The Moody Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 5–2 on April 9 to accept Superintendent Andrew Miller’s recommendation and propose nonrenewal of the term contract for teacher Selina Owens.

Trustee Alton moved to accept the superintendent’s recommendation and to propose nonrenewal of Owens’ contract; Trustee Smith seconded the motion. The motion directed the superintendent to prepare a final Notice of Proposed Nonrenewal for the board president’s signature, to include time limits and the procedure for requesting a hearing, and to notify the law firm of Eichelbaum, Wardell, Hansen, Powell & Munoz, P.C. The motion passed with trustees Alton, Flynn, Foster, Newman and Smith voting for it and Trustees Fairey and Goodwin voting against it.

Multiple students and community members spoke during public comment in opposition to the proposed nonrenewal, with three current students (Grace Washburn, Blair Costine, Addisyn Hale), a former student (Katelyn Hale) and community members (Billy Campbell, Chris Slaughter and Tammy Brown) recorded as urging the board not to nonrenew Owens’ contract. The minutes record these speakers as opposing the proposed action but do not include verbatim quotes from their remarks.

The board instructed staff to attach a copy of the motion to the minutes and to ensure the Notice of Proposed Nonrenewal is delivered no later than 10 days before the last day of instruction in the current school year, and to notify outside counsel to take necessary actions in support of the proposed nonrenewal.