Frustration is still building in Keller after a backroom deal plotting the split of Keller Independent School District.Now students, a Fort Worth homeowner’s association and legal hotshots have entered the battlefield. Meanwhile, shakeups within the school board see new leadership as the district attempts to solve budget shortcomings.
Outrage first ensued when two KISD board trustees confirmed rumors via a Facebook statement that a potential division of the district into two was true. The proposal was drafted behind closed doors that excluded several board trustees and blindsided the community. Forgoing typical protocol, the school district split never appeared on a meeting agenda before it was introduced at a December meeting by Board President Charles Randklev and two other trustees. The school board called a last-minute special meeting in January and hundreds of community members showed up to share their two cents.
“The issue of splitting up Keller Independent School District into two separate districts is one that will shape the future of our schools, our children, and our community,” said one district parent during last month's meeting. “As voters, we deserve clarity and accountability in every step of this process. Transparency is not just a buzzword. It's a cornerstone of trust.”
Beyond the shady process of the proposal, Keller ISD parents pointed out that the split would concentrate the district’s amenities on the east side of the highway, limiting the opportunities for thousands of students, many of whom are Black.
“It should be noted that the western side of the district has nearly double the population and will be cut off from those resources…” said one KISD father. “As a side note, when you look at the demographic information, it's not a great look that you want just [ZIP code] 76248 to have it, 80% white, weird.”
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 27. No official vote has been announced. It has been a month since the special meeting, tensions have only increased, and Keller and the surrounding areas are gearing up for a lengthy battle. Here’s everything that has happened since:
The Board Justifies the Proposed Split
At a scheduled board meeting on Jan. 30, KISD board trustees, along with a team of accountants, revealed a stark truth faced by many North Texas school districts — they are operating under a colossal budgetary deficit. KISD’s comes in at the tune of $10 million.
Declining enrollment and a stagnant amount of state funding have led to the closure of dozens of North Texas schools. Seeking solutions before they consider shuttering schools, proponents of splitting the district say creating a new school district could help balance the scale.
“We must find a way to keep our tax dollars local, keep our schools open, support our excellent teachers and ensure all students receive the high-quality education they deserve,” Randklev said during the meeting.
But one of the trustees and original whistleblowers, Joni Smith, who would be evicted from her chair in the split, disagrees that the solution to the budget crisis is taking the district to the chopping block.
“This doesn’t seem like a very smart thing to do,” said Smith.
KISD Superintendent Steps Down
At the special meeting in January, Superintendent Tracy Johnson announced she was willing to step down, effective immediately.
"I am prepared to offer my letter of resignation and retirement and I'm not doing that for theatrics…,” she said following the hours of public testimony. “When we go back to an executive session I do have that ready to go. I'm sorry.”
Johnson is required to complete her contract, which ends in June, or reach a termination agreement with the board. She did not appear at the Jan. 30 meeting, though addressing her resignation was listed on the meeting agenda. Randklev said the board would discuss the issue “at a later date.”
Though the details of Johnson’s official departure are unannounced, an interim superintendent was selected. KISD announced Cory Wilson, assistant superintendent of education services, will step into the role temporarily.
“I appreciate Dr. Wilson’s willingness to lead the District during this transition,” said Randklev in the press release announcing the appointment. “His knowledge of Keller ISD and commitment to its students will provide valuable stability at this time.”
Students Protest
Heath Shifflett, a sophomore at Keller High School, serves as one of the loudest student voices protesting the split.
“We are not two sides of the track, we are not four competing feeding patterns and we are not seven different tax brackets,” said Shifflett before the board. “We are Keller and we are far stronger together.”
Shifflett met about a hundred other students from five Keller and Fort Worth high schools in a staged walkout he organized on Feb. 7.
“We refuse to be strangled by your noose of absolutism. We refuse to let your opaqueness stifle us,” he said in a pointed statement to Randklev during the walkout. “You are not a king. You are a president. And by democracy, you shall govern.”
District principals released a statement discouraging students from participating.
“While we respect the Constitutional rights of our students to freedom of speech and expression, we encourage families to talk with their students and remind them that leaving a class and failing to return is considered skipping,” the statement said.
Heritage HOA Brings on Legal Superstars
Heritage, a far North Fort Worth neighborhood, has enlisted the help of Kelly Hart & Hall, a legal supergiant with an impressive roster of notable clients, as part of their legal task force.
“Retaining Kelly Hart & Hall sends a clear message,” said the Heritage Life HOA in a press release. “ We are prepared to use every legal avenue available to us to protect the rights of our residents and ensure their voices are heard on this critical issue.”
The district has already been sued by at least one parent, who filed his suit before the special meeting was held. Now Heritage Life HOA is preparing for more legal action. The new task force has raised $40,000 through private donations, some from Fort Worth City Council members, and an additional $14,000 in GoFundMe donations.
“Our goal is clear: to defeat any action to split KISD that does not include a public vote by the people,” says the GoFundMe description. “We believe such a significant decision impacting our children’s education and our community must be made by the community."
