On March 7, 2024, the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees voted to engage in negotiations for a settlement with the Texas Attorney General regarding a civil lawsuit alleging the district's involvement in unlawful electioneering.
At the emergency meeting Thursday afternoon, the board of trustees unanimously voted 6-0 to initiate negotiations. This decision was prompted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s petition on Feb. 28, which accused the Frisco ISD Government Affairs of urging the public to support candidates against school vouchers and to participate in a specific party's primary elections on its Facebook page.
A temporary restraining order was granted by a Collin County judge against Frisco ISD officials, barring them from disseminating messages that violate state regulations. The court directed Frisco ISD to promptly halt activities that led to the state's legal action against the district, following the discovery of public employees misusing state resources to sway the current primary elections.
The legal documents list Superintendent Mike Waldrip, Government Affairs Chairperson Megan DeWolfe and board members Dynette Davis, Gopal Ponangi, Rene Archambault, Marvin Lowe, Stephanie Elad, Mark Hill and John Classe as defendants.
During the March 7 meeting, Collin County Republican Party Precinct Chair David Lethe asked board members if they were considering resignation following the allegations.
“You are not supposed to electioneer … everybody has to complete training about the law,” said Lethe during the public comment section of the meeting. “These are grounds for dismissal.”
In recent weeks, Paxton’s office lodged similar electioneering lawsuits against Denton, Denison, Castleberry, Aledo, Huffman and Hutto ISDs. Currently, Denton and Castleberry ISDs have reached agreements on injunctions and settled their legal disputes with the state.
If both parties fail to reach an agreement before then, a trial for a temporary injunction will be scheduled for March 20 in Collin County.
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