Carroll ISD board approves proposed settlement in lawsuit alleging violations to Texas Open Meetings Act

Carroll ISD trustees have decided to settle a lawsuit brought forth by a Southlake parent in September 2020 that alleged some members of the board violated the Texas Open Meetings Act.

In a 4-1 vote on Dec. 13, the board approved a proposed settlement agreement. Trustee Sheri Mills was the sole opposing vote. Trustees Michelle Moore and Todd Carlton abstained.

The Walsh Gallegos Law Firm, which represents the district in the lawsuit, said Carroll ISD is in the process of finalizing the settlement and did not provide any additional comments.

Dusty Fillmore, lead attorney for Kristin Garcia, the plaintiff in the case, said his client “believes that her differences with the Carroll Independent School District and its board have been resolved.”

Terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

The lawsuit centered on the release of a series of text messages among five board members discussing how to approach the Cultural Competence Action Plan before the scheduled board meeting Aug. 3, 2020.

Under the state's open meetings law, board discussions about school business must be done in public unless they are part of an authorized closed session.

A judge approved a temporary restraining order in December 2020, halting all work on the CCAP while the case moved through the courts.

The district appealed that temporary restraining order, but the appeal was dismissed by the Texas Second Court of Appeals in October.