Frisco ISD officials approve settlement agreement for electioneering lawsuit

Frisco ISD officials have approved a settlement agreement with the Texas attorney general for the electioneering lawsuit filed earlier this year.

The district’s board of trustees approved the settlement Sept. 16. The settlement will allow FISD to avoid additional expenses and use of resources required for a full trial which was set Sept. 30, according to an emailed statement from an FISD spokesperson.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Frisco ISD for illegal electioneering on Feb. 28. His office also filed a temporary restraining order against the district to stop electioneering Feb. 29. The lawsuit was filed against the district in regards to three social media posts that were published on FISD’s Government Affairs Facebook page Feb. 20, 23 and 27, according to the filing.

The lawsuit filing stated the department used official resources to advocate for certain policies and political measures. It stated that the social media posts by the district directly violate the Texas Election Code’s prohibition against the use of “state or local funds or other resources of the district to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure or political party,” according to an attorney general Feb. 28 news release.

FISD’s board members authorized administration and the district’s legal counsel to negotiate with the attorney general’s staff in response to his injunction proposal during a March 7 meeting.

The social media posts have since been edited after direction by Collin County Judge Andrea Bouressa determined which parts of the post may be electioneering.