Keller ISD superintendent noticeably absent from school board meeting discussing possible split

The Keller ISD school board tried to explain to a crowd full of parents and community members why it feels it needs to split in two. But it seems like it wasn't enough to convince the majority of people in attendance.

Thursday’s meeting began at 5 p.m. and went past midnight.

What we know:

Superintendent Dr. Tracy Johnson was noticeably absent from the meeting. The board was expected to discuss her possible registration but ultimately delayed taking any action.

More than 200 people signed up to speak on Thursday evening, more than doubling the speakers from the special school board meeting held two weeks ago.

A map of the proposed split was also presented during the meeting. It showed Highway 377 as the dividing line.

What they're saying:

Many parents, teachers and community members are still upset about the potential split and are calling for transparency from the board.

They also want the public to be able to vote on the future of Keller ISD.

Those against the split argue the less affluent part of the current district would lose access to Keller facilities and be forced to deal with the looming debt.

"Everyone on the board should be looking at me. It is absolutely unacceptable for you to be exploit an ambiguous law to allow a unilateral decision without the vote of the people," one parent said. "That is absolutely disgusting.  You heard from a 6th grader."

The other side:

There was a clear group of people present at Thursday’s meeting who are for the district split and want smaller districts. 

This other side wasn't as visible at the meeting two weeks ago.

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Keller ISD discusses possibility of splitting the district in two

Keller ISD school board president Charles Randklev is framing the split as a "reshaping" of the district.

"You have faced the mob, the noise, the backlash. Yet, you have stayed focused," a parent said. "Your strength and courage and your vision are not just commemorable but vital. I am pro-split if this gives kids better opportunities."

Missing Superintendent

What we know:

Another big talker at Thursday’s meeting was the absence of Superintendent Dr. Tracy Johnson. 

At the top of the meeting, the chair assigned to the superintendent sat empty, and her name plate was removed.

The board didn't take any public action related to Johnson but nominated Dr. Cory Wilson as the new interim superintendent.

Wilson served as the assistant superintendent of education services and has been with the district for more than 20 years.

Big picture view:

Board President Charles Randklev reiterated Thursday that the split is a direct response to the lack of funding for public schools.

Randklev defended the reshaping but emphasized that nothing is set in stone right now. He said there are committees set up to study the possibility of a split. However, they were previously chosen by the board.

The Source: Information in this article comes from Keller ISD's Thursday school board meeting and previous FOX 4 reports.

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