The Whitney Independent School District Board of Trustees met in regular session Monday, December 8, and accepted the resignation of Vice President Jason Sneed.
In an online statement, Sneed said his resignation was in order to prevent claims of nepotism or corruption as an immediate family member seeks employment within the district. Sneed also declared his intent to run for the same spot when it is next available, stating he wishes to serve the district for several more years.
Following Sneed’s resignation, the board was reorganized, with Ray Watson named vice president and Amy Hoffman named secretary. At a special meeting held Friday, December 12, Brent Marbut was unanimously appointed to fill the empty spot on the board.
Meagan Stewart spoke in open forum regarding an incident involving her 8-year-old autistic son and a Whitney Elementary School paraprofessional after he sat down before the end of the Pledge of Allegiance.
“Recently, an incident occurred at my child’s school in which my child was physically handled by a staff member. I was not notified at the time that the incident occurred. I later learned of the situation through the school communication and through a police report that was generated after officers reviewed the available evidence.
“According to the records provided to me, a citation was issued by law enforcement. I am not drawing any conclusions beyond what is stated in those records; I am simply acknowledging their existence.
“My child has an active 504 plan. This plan outlines specific accommodations and procedures related to behavioral support. The district told the Whitney Police Department that my son does not have any accommodations; that statement was false.
“I recognize that the schools face difficult situations, and I understand that staff may sometimes have to make quick decisions. However, when a 504 plan exists, it is a legally required document and it guides how a child’s needs must be addressed.”
Stewart went on to request that the district improve communication in situations such as these; consistently train staff on 504 compliance, deescalation practices and reporting protocols; and review this incident through appropriate internal processes to identify and correct any issues.
“My goal is not confrontation — my goal is clarity, safety and the best possible learning environment for my child and for all students. I’m relying on this district to ensure that policies are followed, training is reinforced and communication with families is timely and transparent.”
Amy Teal also spoke regarding this issue. Teal stated: “As a council member, I have caught a lot of flack for not standing for the pledge. But beyond what she has talked about regarding policies and plans, there are some very serious civil rights issues that are wrapped up in that incident — plan or no plan, student or not a student.
“When we are dealing with a community that has not learned what free speech really is, then we’re going to end up seeing more things like this. People should not be assaulted for not standing for the pledge or for not saying the pledge. You can talk, you can disagree, but you don’t get to assault somebody over it.
“And when you push a narrative that saying the pledge needs to happen, it leads to more altercations like this. That kind of thinking set this paraprofessional up for a criminal action.”
No official statement regarding the incident has been released by WISD.
The board approved a stipend of $500 for all active employees of the district, which was distributed Friday morning.
The board heard a presentation from accounting firm JRBT regarding the district’s annual audit.
Due to the recent shutdown of the federal government, the firm did not receive guidance that would typically be needed; however, due to provisions made by the Texas Education Agency, the firm was able to provide a preliminary unmodified or “clean” opinion.
Expenditures for the fiscal year totaled $17.9 million, below the budgeted expenditures of $18.1 million, and actual revenue amounted to $19.3 million, compared to the budgeted revenue of $18.4 million.
A presentation was also provided regarding the district’s 2024-25 Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas report, in which WISD was given a score of 98 out of a total possible 100 points, indicating superior achievement, up from the district’s 2023-24 rating of 96 out of 100 points.
A public hearing was held regarding the district’s proposed Targeted Improvement Plan for Whitney elementary and intermediate schools, after which it was accepted by the board. The plan is available in full at whitneyisd.org.
The board voted to reject all HVAC and roof repair bids due to errors, then took action to approve competitive sealed proposals for both projects as well as the seeking of a design professional.
Students of the month were as follows: elementary school student Reagan Adams, intermediate school student Leo Glode, middle school student Emory Hill and high school student Uriel Zermeno.
The district’s staff members of the month were: elementary school paraprofessional Bethany Laughlin, intermediate school teacher Nichelle Infante, middle school teacher Dillon Hightower and high school secretary Amanda Rankin.
Enrollment stands at 1,423. Resigning or retiring was Stephanie Tucker.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 12, at 6 p.m. in the WISD Administration Board Room, located at 305 South San Jacinto Street in Whitney.
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