Round Rock ISD board to discuss possible discipline for trustee Romere

The email, regarding controversial school boundary changes, was sent to Erik Okerholm, a resident who publicly opposed boundary recommendations.

Per the district's legal policy, a person, including a board member, commits a criminal offense if he or she distributes information considered confidential under the Public Information Act. That act says the email addresses of members of the public who communicate with the government are confidential.

The alleged violation is considered "official misconduct" under the Public Information Act and is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both, district officials said.

Additionally, official misconduct by a school board trustee can be cause for removal from the board.

"I wasn't knowingly or intentionally breaking the law. There was nothing [in the district's policy] that said you can't forward an email," Romere said at a Feb. 2 meeting where the board voted to ask the Williamson County Attorney's Office to investigate Romere's actions. "The intent was to foster communication and to bring people together on a very divisive issue."

Romere also said that she thought the allegations were retaliation for disagreeing to proposed boundary changes as well as voting to not extend superintendent Jesus Chavez's contract through June 30, 2015 and increase his annual salary to $260,000.

On Feb. 2, the board voted 5–2 to ask the Williamson County Attorney's office to investigate Romere's actions, with Romere and trustee Bobby Sieferman casting the two dissenting votes.

Discussion of a possible punishment is listed on the agenda as a closed session, but in a statement, Romere said she would not agree to a closed-door meeting. The board discussed the issue in open session at the Feb. 2 meeting per Romere's request after initially posting the item as a closed session.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Round Rock High School, 300 Lake Creek Drive.