Parents and former educators at Blanco Vista Elementary School are calling for the school's principal to be removed from her position. Members of the Blanco Vista community spoke during public comment March 23 at the Hays CISD Board of Trustees meeting. A petition circulated by those who want her removed claimed Principal Rebecca Shea's administration has seen a "tradition [of valuing diversity] devalued and our dual-language program continually reduced and dismantled." In dual-language education students are taught two languages, English and Spanish at Hays CISD and most other Texas schools where the curriculum is employed. The two dual-language programs at Hays CISD—one that caters to both primary English speakers and primary Spanish speakers, and another to just Spanish speakers learning English—call for half of the instruction to be in English and the other half in Spanish. "Fire the principal of Blanco Vista," read a sign displayed by those calling for Shea's removal. "We don't want dictators at Blanco Vista." In addition to saying she is departing from the dual-language program and ignoring cultural activities, such as the Dia De Los Muertos celebration, a petition that was circulating at the meeting claimed, "Shea's tenure as principal has been characterized by a climate of fear among our educators, and of poor communications with parents and the community, leading to the loss of the equivalent of over 60 percent of our teachers in a two-year period." Shea, speaking through a district spokesman, said in response that she shares Hays CISD's goal of "providing the best educational opportunities possible for our students." No action was taken at the workshop meeting. The board will take action on items March 30. Tim Savoy, Hays CISD spokesman, said that among the items on the agenda is the renewal of administrators' contracts. He said the district plans to look seriously into the claims made by parents and teachers. Savoy added the district encourages discourse on how to improve the education at its schools. "One of the points of pride in our district is that we are very transparent and very amenable to discussing issues, even the tough ones with our constituents," he said. "We're glad they made themselves available to come out and address the board. This is one of the many opportunities that people in our district have to communicate with the district."