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[Hearings on November 09, 2023.]

[00:00:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS MEETING IS NOW CONVENED AT 4:25 P.M.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES.

A QUORUM OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM.

THEY ARE FROM MY RIGHT ON THE PLATFORM.

ANGELA FLOWERS.

MYSELF, AUDREY MOMANAEE, RIC CAMPO, ROLANDO MARTINEZ, AND PAULA MENDOZA.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS VIA ZOOM.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO HEAR FROM SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEMS. HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS REGISTERED TO SPEAK.

WE WILL NOW CONDUCT A HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THIS MEETING.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO CONSIDER THE DISPUTE FILED BY SILVERSTEIN.

RUSSELL, A PARENT OF A FORMER STUDENT AT FURR HIGH SCHOOL.

STUDENT HEARINGS ARE TO BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION UNLESS BOTH PARTIES TO A HEARING REQUEST THAT IT BE CONDUCTED IN OPEN SESSION.

IN ADDITION, HEARINGS INVOLVING COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ARE TO BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE HEARING REQUESTS AN OPEN HEARING. IF BOTH PARTIES REQUEST AN OPEN HEARING DURING THE COURSE OF THIS HEARING, THE BOARD MAY GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO CONSULT WITH ITS ATTORNEY.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTIONS 551.071.

IF ANY BOARD MEMBER WISHES TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL, PLEASE MAKE THIS KNOWN TO ME.

FOR THE RECORD.

CELESTYN RUSSELL IS PRESENT.

PAUL LAMP, REPRESENTING THE ADMINISTRATION, IS PRESENT.

KATASHA WOODS, GENERAL COUNSEL, IS ALSO PRESENT.

MS. RUSSELL, DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE AN OPEN OR CLOSED SESSION? OPEN SESSION. MR. LAMPE, DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE AN OPEN OR CLOSED SESSION? VERY GOOD. THE ISSUES BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE WHETHER BOARD POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES WERE CORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE GRIEVANCE, AND WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION HAS VIOLATED THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

MS. RUSSELL, SINCE YOU ASKED THE BOARD, HEAR THIS MATTER, YOU'LL PROCEED FIRST.

YOU'LL BE ALLOWED TO MAKE A TEN-MINUTE PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD, FOLLOWED BY A TEN-MINUTE PRESENTATION BY MR. LAMPE. MA'AM, YOU MAY RESERVE PART OF YOUR TEN MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL TO MATTERS PRESENTED BY MR. LAMPE. BOTH SIDES SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AFTER THEIR RESPECTIVE PRESENTATIONS.

AFTER DELIBERATION, THE BOARD WILL RENDER ITS DECISION.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE WAY THIS DISPUTE RESOLUTION HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED? YES. AFTER THIS BOARD MEETING, IF I'M IN, IF I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT FOR WHATEVER.

IS THAT WHERE IT ENDS? RIGHT HERE. MS. WOODS, CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? OKAY, SO OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE.

IT WOULD BE THIS WOULD BE THE LAST DECISION FROM THIS BOARD, FROM THE DISTRICT.

AND THEN YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES SENSE TO GO SOME OTHER PLACE.

BUT FOR THE GRIEVANCE, THIS WOULD BE THE LEVEL THREE AND THE FINAL DECISION FROM HISD ON THE MATTER.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I WILL ASK HIM BECAUSE WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, I WROTE MIKE MORATH, AND HE TOLD ME I HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

BUT THIS IS THE FINAL STEP AND WE'RE NOT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S OPEN.

YOU'D HAVE TO GO BACK TO HIM AND ASK THAT THOSE OKAY.

WELL, NOT TO MIKE MORATH TO THE AGENCY AND ASK THOSE.

BUT FOR HISD THIS WOULD BE THE FINAL DETERMINATION ON FOR US ON THIS SUBJECT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIVIDE YOUR TIME IN MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD? BASED ON THE TRANSCRIPT, I'LL TAKE ABOUT THREE MINUTES TO OPEN OR 3 TO 5 MINUTES AND LEAVE.

FIVE MINUTES. I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

CLOSING. OKAY, SO 3 TO 5 MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, THEN THE REMAINDER FOR REBUTTAL.

CORRECT? OKAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM.

YOU MAY BEGIN.

OKAY. OBVIOUSLY, MY DAUGHTER, OF COURSE, HAS GRADUATED AND THIS SITUATION WAS SO SERIOUS FOR US, IT WOULD TAKE US.

SHE'S A YEAR AND A HALF TO GET HER ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN COLLEGE.

AND WE'RE STILL HERE, HERE TODAY FOR THIS INCIDENT.

THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR RAISED MY DAUGHTER AND MY NIECE AND SEVERAL OTHER CHEERLEADER TEAM MEMBERS.

ARE YOU OKAY? OKAY. CAN YOU RESET MY MINUTES, PLEASE, THEN? OKAY, SO I'M HERE TODAY AGAIN.

LIKE I SAID, EVEN THOUGH THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, AND MY DAUGHTER HAS LONG GONE AND GRADUATED AND SO FORTH.

THE MAIN NUMBER ONE QUESTION I HAVE FOR THE DISTRICT IS THIS OFFICER, THAT AND PRINCIPAL THAT FALSELY ARRESTED MY DAUGHTER AND THE OTHER CHILDREN THAT WERE DEFENDING THEMSELVES.

IS IT YOUR POLICY TO HIRE AN OFFICER THAT HAS BEEN FIRED FROM HPD, HARRIS COUNTY

[00:05:05]

MULTIPLE TIMES? THEY EVEN GAVE HER OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE HERSELF TOGETHER, SUSPENDED HER FOR A YEAR AND ALLOW HER TO COME BACK AND STILL TERMINATED HER FOR MISCONDUCT AND LYING.

YOU KNOW IT.

DO YOU THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT TO HIRE AN OFFICER THAT HAS LOST HER JOB FOR LYING AND MISCONDUCT? THAT'S ONE QUESTION THAT I WANT TO ASK THE BOARD TO THINK ABOUT, THAT IF THIS PERSON COULD NOT SURVIVE MAINLY DEALING WITH ADULTS, WHY WOULD YOU PUT HER THIS DANGEROUS, MALICIOUS PERSON UP ON CHILDREN? MY DAUGHTER WAS ABUSED BY THIS OFFICER.

FALSELY ARRESTED.

SHE PUT HER KNEE IN MY DAUGHTER'S CHEST.

MY DAUGHTER HAD I TOOK PICTURES OF.

SHE HAD BRUISED ALL OVER HER WRIST.

AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS, I COULD GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THESE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE PRINCIPAL AND THIS OFFICER.

BUT WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO DEFEND MYSELF OR MY DAUGHTER AGAINST A KNOWN LIAR? SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR THE DISTRICT IN THAT ROLE.

DEALING WITH CHILDREN.

DO YOU EVEN DO BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS? DO YOU DO BACKGROUND CHECKS? BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THIS OFFICER TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT.

KNOWING THAT SHE HAD A TROUBLED PAST.

MISCONDUCT. LYING.

DO YOU DO? BACKGROUND CHECKS? NOBODY CAN ANSWER MY QUESTION, MA'AM.

THEY JUST CAN'T ANSWER YOU.

OKAY, WELL, THAT'S ONE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK.

AND YOU WANT TO PUT ME AGAINST THIS PRINCIPAL WHO'S A KNOWN LIAR, AND THIS OFFICER WHO'S A KNOWN LIAR AND MY INNOCENT DAUGHTER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE A DAY IN HER LIFE.

HAD TO GET ABUSED BECAUSE SHE WAS DEFENDING HERSELF.

SIMPLY BECAUSE SHE WAS DEFENDING HERSELF.

CAPTAIN OF THE CHEER TEAM.

MY DAUGHTER HAS ATTENDED ALL SOUGHT AFTER SCHOOLS IN HISD EVER SINCE SHE'S BEEN IN THE SECOND GRADE. I ASKED MY DAUGHTER TO TRANSFER FROM BELLAIRE TO THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT HER DRIVING AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY FROM WHERE WE STAYED TO BELLAIRE.

AND THAT WAS THE WORST DECISION I EVER MADE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, I CAN TRUST YOU BEING A NEW DRIVER, DRIVING 15 MINUTES AWAY, BUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, I'M JUST NOT SETTLED WITH THAT.

I CONVINCED MY DAUGHTER TO GO AGAINST HER WILL AND IT WAS MAYHEM.

SO THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO GO.

WE CAN GO. THEY CAN SHOW VIDEOS OF MY DAUGHTER DEFENDING HERSELF.

AND IF YOU THINK THAT MAKES ME FEEL BAD, IT MAKES ME FEEL PROUD BECAUSE I TOLD MY DAUGHTER, YOU DON'T COME HOME WITH NO SCARS ON YOU AND YOU DON'T YOU COME HOME ALIVE.

AND AS FAR AS THIS PRINCIPAL, IF YOU EMAIL A PRINCIPAL, I EMAIL THE PRINCIPAL.

MY DAUGHTER EMAILED THE PRINCIPAL, MY SISTER EMAILED THE PRINCIPAL, MY NIECE EMAILED THE PRINCIPAL, AND WE HAVE RECORDS OF THIS.

WE NEVER GOT A RESPONSE BACK.

SHE ALLOWED THIS INCIDENT TO ESCALATE INSTEAD OF DOING HER JOB.

SHE WAS AN ABSENT PRINCIPAL.

HALF THE STUDENTS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SHE WAS A PRINCIPAL.

AND I THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.

YOU JUST CANNOT MAKE ME BELIEVE THAT YOU AGAIN, YOU WOULD HIRE AN OFFICER THAT HAS COMMITTED CRIMES TO WORK AROUND CHILDREN, AND THEN YOU WON'T HOLD THIS PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABLE, BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER EIGHT EMAILS AND LETTERS WHERE WE'VE TRIED TO SCHEDULE MEETINGS AND. UM.

I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT FOR THE WORD TO TRY TO PREVENT THE INCIDENT FROM ESCALATING, AND WE WERE IGNORED, AND THAT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESERVE THE REST OF YOUR TIME? YES, MA'AM. OKAY.

THANK YOU. MR. LAMPE, YOU MAY MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD BASED ON THE TRANSCRIPT.

HOW ABOUT NOW? GREAT. YES. THANK YOU.

BOARD PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M PAUL LAMPE HERE, REPRESENTING THE ADMINISTRATION, ALONG WITH TAMMY MORAN, THE PRINCIPAL OF FIR HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS MATTER AT ITS CORE, INVOLVES FIGHTS THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN SEVERAL STUDENTS AT FIR HIGH SCHOOL IN JANUARY OF 2020, TWO FIGHTS THAT INCLUDED MS. RUSSELL'S DAUGHTER.

AND CERTAINLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL VIDEOS IN THE RECORD THAT SHOW THESE FIGHTS.

I'M NOT SHOWING ANY OF THOSE VIDEOS TODAY, BUT THAT'S AT THE HEART OF THIS SITUATION.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ANY VIDEOS IN THE RECORD, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT EXHIBIT NUMBER FIVE IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECORD EXHIBIT NUMBER FIVE SHOWS MISS RUSSELL'S DAUGHTER IN A RED SWEATSHIRT AND CAMOUFLAGE PANTS, REPEATEDLY STRIKING ANOTHER FEMALE STUDENT WITH HER

[00:10:05]

FIST OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO WATCH A VIDEO, WATCH THAT ONE.

SO, WITH THAT IN MIND, UNDER ANY SCENARIO, FIGHTS LIKE THAT HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS.

AND ALL STUDENTS WERE DISCIPLINED AS A RESULT OF THOSE FIGHTS.

MS. RUSSELL CLAIMS IN HER GRIEVANCE, WHICH IS EXHIBIT ONE IN THE PACKET IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS BULLIED EARLIER IN THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THAT THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, MISS MORAN, FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE DISTRICT'S BULLYING POLICIES THAT EVEN THE SUPERINTENDENT, MILLARD HOUSE AT THE TIME, FAILED TO RESPOND TO HER EMAILS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO GET RIGHT TO THE REMEDY THAT MISS RUSSELL SEEKS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A REMEDY THAT THIS BOARD CAN PROVIDE, AND THAT IS THIS.

IN HER GRIEVANCE, SHE ASKS THAT THIS BOARD INDEPENDENTLY TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH AGAIN AT THE TIME WAS MR. HOUSE, TO TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF MISS MORAN, THE PRINCIPAL, AND TO TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE OFFICER THAT SHE SAYS ACTED IMPROPERLY AND TOO ROUGHLY WITH HER DAUGHTER DURING THIS INCIDENT.

AND THAT'S OFFICER KATRINA COTTON RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO.

THIS BOARD DOES NOT INDEPENDENTLY MAKE DECISIONS TO TERMINATE EMPLOYEES UNDERNEATH THE LEVEL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

THE BOARD TAKES PERSONNEL ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE MADE TO YOU BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE DISTRICT'S ADMINISTRATION. SO, NUMBER ONE, AS THE SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, OF COURSE, THAT'S MOOT.

SO, IF WE GO TO THE SECOND PERSON, MS. MORAN, AGAIN, THIS BOARD CANNOT AND DOES NOT SIMPLY INDEPENDENTLY MAKE A DECISION TO TERMINATE AN ADMINISTRATOR LIKE MISS MORAN.

YOU ACT ONLY ON A RECOMMENDATION BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.

THAT RECOMMENDATION IS NOT IN FRONT OF YOU.

ADDITIONALLY, MS. MORAN AND ALL ADMINISTRATORS HERE ARE EMPLOYED UNDER ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACTS THAT REQUIRE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A FULL-BLOWN DUE PROCESS HEARING PRIOR TO TERMINATING THEIR EMPLOYMENT.

NONE OF THAT IS BEFORE YOU, SO IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPROPER TO GRANT ANY OF THE RELIEF SHE'S SEEKING.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE END OF THIS GRIEVANCE.

YOU CAN'T GRANT HER ANY RELIEF.

THUS, THE GRIEVANCE SHOULD END AS TO THE LAST PERSON.

AND THAT'S OFFICER COTTON AGAIN, PRIOR TO TERMINATING A PEACE OFFICER IN TEXAS, YOU HAVE TO GIVE THAT PEACE OFFICER A FORMAL SIGNED NOTICE OF A COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

NONE OF THAT IS BEFORE YOU.

NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED.

IF THIS BOARD WERE TO CHOOSE TO TERMINATE AN OFFICER WITHOUT THAT, YOU'D BE VIOLATING THE LAW.

SO AGAIN, FROM THE GET-GO, BECAUSE THERE IS NO REQUEST FOR RELIEF IN FRONT OF YOU THAT YOU CAN EVEN GRANT, YOU SHOULD DENY HER REQUESTED RELIEF AND DENY HER GRIEVANCE.

BUT EVEN IF YOU GET INTO THE FACTS OF THIS SITUATION, THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO YOU.

NUMBER ONE, THIS INFORMATION THAT'S PURPORTEDLY ABOUT THIS OFFICER BEING TERMINATED FROM HERE, OR THIS RECORD OR THAT NONE OF THAT IS IN THE RECORD BEFORE YOU. THERE IS NO INFORMATION IN THIS PACKET THAT SHOWS ANY OF THAT.

AND AS THIS BOARD WELL KNOWS, YOU CAN'T CONSIDER THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE RECORD.

AND THAT CONSTITUTED ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF WHAT SHE PRESENTED TO YOU.

SECONDLY, THE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE FACTS AND LOOK AT THE SITUATION HERE AND WHETHER THERE WAS ANY WRONGDOING, LOOK AT EXHIBIT FIVE, THAT VIDEO AND JUST ASK YOURSELF, WOULD I DISCIPLINE? DO I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DISCIPLINE A STUDENT WHO IS BEATING ANOTHER STUDENT WITH THEIR FISTS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER? AND APPARENTLY THIS PARENT SANCTIONS THAT.

YOU BET SHE WAS DISCIPLINED.

YOU BET SHE WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PD.

CONDUCTED A FULL BLOWN IAD ON THAT OFFICER AND FOUND THAT SHE ENGAGED IN NO MISCONDUCT WHATSOEVER.

IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT EXHIBIT 16, THIS IS A STATEMENT FROM A WITNESS TO THE EVENT WHERE HER DAUGHTER WAS ARRESTED.

THIS WAS THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR THAT SAID THAT SHE OBSERVED THE ARREST, WHICH HAPPENED ABOUT 1115 ON THAT DAY.

THE STUDENT WAS ASKED SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP RESISTING AND TO SIT OUTSIDE OF MY EYES VIEW .

STUDENT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE OFFICE TO HAVE A SEAT.

[00:15:02]

STUDENT, WHO APPEARED TO BE STRONGER THAN USUAL, BEGAN TO KICK AT OFFICERS, PULL BOOKS OFF THE SHELF, AND SNATCHED A COMPUTER, LAPTOP AND MONITOR TO THE FLOOR.

STUDENT WAS ASKED AGAIN TO CALM DOWN AND REFRAIN FROM RESISTING.

TRYING TO REMOVE THE HANDCUFFS AND FIGHTING OFFICERS.

SHE WAS FINALLY LEFT IN MY OFFICE WHERE SHE DID CALM DOWN EVENTUALLY.

SO THAT'S THE FACTS.

THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE RECORD.

THERE WAS NO IMPROPER ARREST HERE.

THOSE ARE THE FACTS BEFORE YOU.

NOTHING THAT SHE SAID ABOUT THIS OFFICER IS IN THE RECORD.

NONE OF THAT IS FACTUAL.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO LOOK AT OTHER EXHIBITS IN THE RECORD, YOU WILL SEE A STATEMENT FROM THE CHEER SQUAD COACH AT HER HIGH SCHOOL THAT YEAR THAT DESCRIBES HER MULTIPLE EFFORTS WITH CHEERLEADERS BECAUSE THIS INVOLVED CHEERLEADERS, CHEERLEADERS, THEIR PARENTS, MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS THAT SHE HAD WITH THEM ABOUT ACTING PROPERLY, BEHAVING, NOT ENGAGING IN THIS KIND OF FIGHTING.

AND DESPITE ALL THAT, THESE FIGHTS STILL TOOK PLACE IN JANUARY.

BUT IT WASN'T DUE TO ANY LACK OF EFFORT BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE STAFF AT THE SCHOOL.

THESE FIGHTS JUST HAPPENED, AND THEY DO HAPPEN.

AND WHEN THEY HAPPEN, STUDENTS SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED FOR IT.

SO JUST IN SUM, THERE'S NO RELIEF BEFORE YOU THAT IS EVEN PROPER FOR YOU TO GRANT.

YOU SHOULD DENY HER GRIEVANCE FOR THAT INDEPENDENT REASON.

IF YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER, THE FACTS OF THIS CASE ARE FULLY IN FAVOR OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

THERE ARE NO FACTS IN THIS MATTER THAT SHOW WRONGDOING BY THE PRINCIPAL OR ANY STAFF MEMBER OR ANY PEACE OFFICER.

AND FINALLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, MS. MOMANAEE, IN YOUR INTRODUCTION, THERE HAS TO BE A VIOLATION OF SOME POLICY FOR THE BOARD TO GRANT RELIEF.

NOTHING HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU THAT SHOWS SOME VIOLATION OF ANY POLICY.

FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, WE ASK THAT YOU DENY THE GRIEVANCE AND THE RELIEF REQUESTED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS RUSSELL.

DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL? YES, MA'AM. I'LL BE REALLY BRIEF IF MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO SPEAK.

OKAY, SO I WANT TO START WITH SAYING THAT MS. MORAN'S REPRESENTATIVE MUST NOT HAVE READ THE APOLOGY LETTER THAT SHE HAD HER STAFF WRITE TO US, LABELING US AS VICTIMS. I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT. I'VE BEEN A COLLEGE STUDENT SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WENT [INAUDIBLE] AND.

I'LL JUST SAY THAT THAT THEY WROTE US AN APOLOGY LETTER LABELING US AS VICTIMS AFTER THEY SNATCHED US OUT OF OUR COLLEGE COURSES.

THAT'S TOO BAD. IT IS IN THE RECORD.

NO, IT'S NOT. OKAY, SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE BOARD KNOWS OR NOT, BUT FIR IS A SCHOOL THAT HAS A FIGHT EVERY DAY.

I HAVE VIDEOS OF THIS PRINCIPAL ALLOWING A PREGNANT GIRL TO WALK STRAIGHT PAST HER AND ATTACK SOMEBODY ELSE.

THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING, YOU KNOW? AND I JUST WASN'T RAISED IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

AND I SUFFERED A LOT.

THAT OFFICER CHARGED ME WITH A FELONY.

I COULDN'T GET A JOB.

THEY JUST DISMISSED THAT CASE TWO MONTHS AGO.

AND I'M PAYING THAT ATTORNEY, AND IT COST US $8,000 TO FIGHT A FALSE A FALSE CHARGE.

THEY COULDN'T EVEN COME WITH THAT VIDEO, RIGHT? WE'RE STILL A BODY CAM VIDEO OF MY DAUGHTER THREATENING THE OFFICER.

YES. THEY PROMISED ME I WOULD GET THE VIDEO AFTER THE CASE WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE IT WAS STILL BEING A LEGAL MATTER, WHEREAS THE VIDEO NOW OF MY DAUGHTER THREATENING A POLICE OFFICER. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FACTS, LET'S TALK ABOUT FACTS.

YOU SAID ALL THE STUDENTS WERE ARRESTED.

WERE YOU JUST LIED.

ALL THE STUDENTS WERE NOT ARRESTED, JUST THE ONES THAT WERE BEING VICTIMS. THE CHEER TEAM, MY DAUGHTER AND OTHER CHEERLEADERS, THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT GOT ARRESTED.

AND IN FACT, YOU TOLD THE OTHER GIRLS, JUST CALM DOWN.

YOU WON'T BE ARRESTED.

AND THEY DIDN'T.

AND ANOTHER THING THAT YOU, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FACTS, YOU HAVE EMAILS FROM ME, MY SISTER, MY DAUGHTER, MY NIECE.

AND IF YOU CAN DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO US, OKAY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FACTS, THANK YOU.

SHOW ME THE FACTS OF HOW WE REACHED OUT TO YOU.

BUT YOU NEVER REACHED OUT TO ME BACK.

IF YOU GOT FACTS, THEN YOU GOT AN EMAIL RESPONDING TO ME.

INSTEAD, WE GOT EMAILS OF YOU IGNORING ME PROFUSELY ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.

WHERE'S YOUR FACTS ON THAT? WHERE ARE YOUR FACTS OF RESPONDING TO MY EMAIL? WHERE ARE YOUR FACTS OF RESPONDING TO MY SISTER EMAIL? WHERE ARE YOUR FACTS OF RESPONDING TO MY NIECE AND MY DAUGHTER EMAIL PLEADING FOR HELP? THEY'RE NOT FIGHTERS.

AND ANOTHER THING.

YES, I WILL BE SEEKING.

WHEN THEY ARRESTED MY DAUGHTER.

THE PRINCIPAL SAID, YEAH, LET'S SEE IF YOUR PARENTS GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FIGHT THAT.

[00:20:05]

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY MONEY.

AND WHY WOULD SHE WRITE US A VICTIM LETTER? WHY WOULDN'T YOU HAVE A LETTER IF SHE WROTE A LETTER SAYING THAT MY DAUGHTER AND FOUR OTHER CHEERLEADERS WERE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO GO TO ANY HISD SCHOOL? WHY DON'T YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR RECORDS? BECAUSE I SENT IT TO YOU, AND SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEND YOU A LETTER.

SHE WROTE AND SIGNED HER AS WELL.

WHY DON'T YOU HAVE IT? IT'S CORRUPTION.

THE LAST TIME I WAS IN A BOARD MEETING, I CALLED A BOARD MEMBER A CROOK.

IT TOOK TEN YEARS FOR THAT BOARD MEMBER TO BE PROPERLY LABELED AS WHAT? SHE IS A CROOK.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, THIS PRINCIPAL AND THIS OFFICER, THEY'RE CROOKS, AND THEY'RE PUTTING STUDENTS IN DANGER.

WHAT IF I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE MONEY TO ADVOCATE FOR MY DAUGHTER? WHAT ABOUT THE STUDENTS THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE PARENTS OR THE RESOURCES TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES? SO, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FACTS, LET ME SEE YOUR FACTS.

BESIDES MY DAUGHTER DEFENDING HERSELF AS SHE SHOULD, MY DAUGHTER IS GOING TO DEFEND HERSELF.

WE HAD DEATH THREATS AGAINST US AND EVERYTHING IN OUR HOUSE.

FACTS. SHOW ME AN EMAIL THAT YOU RESPONDED FROM ME.

I'M SORRY, THIS IS THE LAST THING I'LL SAY.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS IS RETALIATION FROM THE SCHOOL BECAUSE OUR PARENTS, THE CHEERLEADERS, PARENTS, MY MOM NUMBER ONE, AND MY AUNT BACK HERE, THEY REPRESENTED US. THEY ASKED WHY? WHY WASN'T FIR DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.

WHY WEREN'T THEY REPRIMANDED THE CHILDREN THAT WERE ACTING OUT? AND THAT'S WHY THEY DID WHAT THEY DID.

SHE DEFINITELY RETALIATED ME BECAUSE I SENT THE VIDEO TO MIKE MORRIS OFFICE, EVEN THOUGH HE TOLD ME HE COULDN'T RESPOND DIRECTLY OF A VIDEO OF A STUDENT WALKING RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF HER PREGNANT, SHE BROUGHT UP HER FIST AND JUST STARTED BEATING UP THE OTHERS, TRYING TO, BUT THE OTHER STUDENT ENDS UP.

BEATING HER UP.

YOU UNDERSTAND ME? BUT THAT.

THAT PREGNANT WOMAN.

YOUNG LADY. CPS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

AND THE PRINCIPAL RETALIATED AGAINST ME BECAUSE I TOLD HER I HAVE THE VIDEO.

WHY IS THIS STUDENT STILL AT SCHOOL? DID YOU. DID YOU CONTACT CPS? AND SHE DIDN'T LIKE MY INVOLVEMENT BECAUSE I HATE VIOLENCE AND I WANTED MY DAUGHTER TO GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING ATTACKED.

SO, THE FACTS ABOUT THAT.

A PREGNANT GIRL CAN GET UP AND BOTTLE UP HER FIST AND PUT A BABY IN DANGER AND STILL BE ALLOWED TO BE AT SCHOOL THAT SAME DAY.

BUT MY DAUGHTER DEFENDED HERSELF AND SHE'S ARRESTED.

FACTS. OKAY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? THE PARTIES HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PRESENTATIONS, AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE OUR DECISION ON THE ISSUES BEFORE US.

WE MUST APPLY ONLY THE FACTS PRESENTED IN THE TRANSCRIPT TO THE APPLICABLE POLICY OR LAW AND MAKE A DECISION IF THERE IS ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN MS. RUSSELL AND THE ADMINISTRATION AS TO WHAT THE POLICIES AND OR PROCEDURES MEAN, THEN IT IS THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE THE MEANING OR APPLICATION OF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

THE RECORD OF THE LEVEL TWO HEARINGS MUST SUPPORT ANY ACTION WE TAKE.

THAT IS, IF THE RECORD SUPPORTS THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE POSITION OF MISS RUSSELL, WE MAY FIND ACCORDINGLY.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE RELOCATE TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM? THE BOARD IS RELOCATING TO THE BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM AT 4:48 P.M.

ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023.

DOES THE BOARD NEED A COPY OF THE LETTER? THE VICTIM LETTER THAT THE PRINCIPAL WROTE.

I THINK WE HAVE THE RECORD. OKAY.

THANK YOU. OH, I'M JUST SAYING, BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE TEXT MESSAGES.

4:59 P.M.

PREVIOUSLY, THE BOARD RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SUBSECTIONS 551.004 THROUGH 551.089. AS SUCH, THE BOARD HAS COME OUT OF CLOSED SESSION TO MAKE A FINAL ACTION, VOTE AND DECISION ON THE MATTER THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION.

ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS COMING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION? I MOVE THAT WE DETERMINE THAT WE'VE STOPPED, LOOKED AND LISTENED, AND THAT WE TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION ON THIS MATTER? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS AND A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER CAMPO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

FIVE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED, ZERO ABSTENTIONS.

THE MOTION PASSES.

IS THERE ANY OTHER MOTION? WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO DISCUSS THIS MEETING OF THE BOARD IS ADJOURNED.

THE TIME IS 5 P.M.

ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023.

ALL THE BEST TO YOU ALL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.