Some Carroll ISD parents don’t want ‘left-wing’ superintendent

SOUTHLAKE

Some Carroll ISD parents and students called for school board members to hire a new superintendent who would not reflect “leftist” agendas and programs.

The board met Thursday night to hear public comments and a presentation from the search firm Thompson and Horton before going into an executive session.

The search to replace David Faltys, who announced his retirement last month, grew controversial after parents spoke against the district’s Cultural Competence Action Plan that hasn’t been approved yet.

The parents are upset that the plan would create a left-wing, socialist environment where their children would be monitored over “microaggressions” and their Christian values would be ignored.

One parent said she wants to see a superintendent who would stand behind the district’s mission statement and who would not support “left-political agendas and agendas made behind closed doors.”

Shawn Stapleton, who lives in Southlake, said, “It is my belief that this administration has taken a radical left turn. There is a faction that loathes Southlake and will stop at nothing to dismantle it. We need a superintendent that does not promote a radical leftist manifesto.”

Several speakers told the school board to reject the plan and to hire someone who would educate instead of indoctrinate students and who would hire teachers based on their merit, not on affirmative actions.

But other speakers asked trustees to use “real leadership” when making their decision.

Maddy Heymann, who helped organize the Southlake Anti-Racism Coalition, told the school board that that they were not showing leadership and were acting “like cowards.”

“If they are not white, they will not be accepted in this district,” she said.

Several in the audience booed, and board president Michelle Moore asked Heymann to stay on the topic of the new superintendent and for the audience to be respectful of one another.

The school board hired the firm Thompson and Horton to conduct the superintendent search.

David Thompson told trustees that the position is already posted and that the next step is to have focus group meetings on Oct. 7. Trustees will nominate parents, students, business owners and others in the community to serve in the focus groups.

The school board will likely interview candidates in November, and the new superintendent should start in early January.

Thompson said his firm has contacted some of the higher performing superintendents in Texas, and that “great people are watching, and they don’t want to leave where they are.”

“You want someone with a proven track record of success in terms of emotional, physical and spiritual growth of kids. Does this place have a great reputation? Yes. Are there concerns? Yes. We want the best, and Carroll kids deserve to get the best,” Thompson said.

With my guide dog Barbara, I keep tabs on growth, economic development and other issues in Northeast Tarrant cities and other communities near Fort Worth. I’ve been a reporter at the Star-Telegram for 34 years.