Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the temporary restraining order on Feb. 29. The restraining order comes after the attorney general sued the district Feb. 28 in response to social media posts that were listed as illegal electioneering.
The board of trustees of an independent school district may not use state or local funds or other resources of the district to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure or political party, according to the Texas Election Code.
The restraining order will be in effect no more than 14 days, unless it is extended, according to the filing. A temporary injunction hearing is set for March 5 in the 429th District Court in Collin County.
Frisco ISD does not comment on pending litigation, a district spokesperson said Feb. 29.
The background
The restraining orders lists three Frisco ISD Government Affairs Facebook posts, which were also included in the original Feb. 28 lawsuit.
The three posts were published on Feb. 20, 23 and 27.
The details
Paxton cannot criminally prosecute violators at this time, and he is using the restraining order as a civil induction to exhaust the ways to hold the district accountable, according to a Feb. 29 news release from the attorney general's office.
The restraining order was filed to keep the district from violating the Texas Education Code and Texas Election Code, according to the order.
The restraining order is against Dynette Davis, Gopal Ponangi, Rene Archambault, Marvin Lowe, Stephanie Elad, Mark Hill and John Classe in their capacity as board members. The lawsuit also names Superintendent Mike Waldrip and Megan DeWolfe, FISD’s Government Affairs chairperson. These are the same people listed in the initial lawsuit.
Looking ahead
The attorney general has filed three other lawsuits against districts in Texas.
Castleberry ISD, Denison ISD and Denton ISD have had suits filed against them in February.
The suits precede the March 5 primary election.
These lawsuits are part of an ongoing effort by Paxton to ensure that Texas elections are not illegally swayed by public officials improperly using state resources, according to a Feb. 29 news release from the attorney general.
