‘It’s not over’: Opponents of squashed Keller ISD split rejoice, but demand transparency
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Keller school district kills plans for split
The Keller school district has abandoned plans to split the district, citing high costs of dividing district debt.
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Opponents to the idea of splitting the Keller school district celebrated the news Friday that the board was dropping the matter, but some vowed to continue pushing for transparency or unseating the members behind the proposal.
“I’m glad that the public forced them to do the right thing,” said Andrew Sternke, a Keller resident who filed a complaint with the Tarrant County district attorney over school board secrecy. “But this doesn’t negate that they violated TOMA, the Texas Open Meetings Act, and the fact that they’ve been nontransparent.”
“It’s not over,” he added. “We need full transparency and accountability on how this transpired. We as stakeholders in the community are going to press forward with the fight.”
Matthew Mucker, who sued the school district in January alleging open meeting violations relating to discussions of the split, said in an email that the board needs to be held accountable, and he is not going to drop his lawsuit.
“I am pleased that the people of Keller ISD are no longer threatened by a proposed split of our school district. However, the board’s behavior and their violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act are still issues that concern the public,” he said.
On Facebook, followers of the “Alliance ISD” parody account created to oppose the split called on voters to elect new school board members this spring.
“We must continue moving forward on the litigation, open records request and the involvement of our community RESHAPING Keller ISD Board of Trustees,” one commenter wrote.
“While I am very happy for KISD families upon hearing this news, I don’t think any of us should be satisfied and stop here,” wrote another. “It is very obvious that the band of Super-PAC board members felt so strongly about splitting the district that they did numerous under-the-table and apparently illegal things to try to make it happen.”
Three seats are open on the school board in the May 3 election. Board members Chelsea Kelly and Joni Shaw Smith are running in Places 2 and 3. Micah Young is not seeking reelection in Place 1. Early voting is April 22-29.
‘We aren’t letting down our guard’
Laney Hawes, a co-founder of Keller ISD Families for Public Education, said she wasn’t going to hold a grudge, but she and others would still hold the school board accountable for its actions.
“It’s a tiny bit of relief, but we aren’t letting down our guard,” she told the Star-Telegram. “I think we’re all relieved, but we are still on guard, we are still anxious. It’s pretty obvious to us the reason they decided to stop was not because it wasn’t financially viable; they stopped because they are in legal trouble. They realized us parents banded together and got the best legal team.”
Fort Worth City Council member Alan Blaylock said he was pleased with the announcement.
“I’m happy to see that Keller ISD is moving forward together,” Blaylock said.
Since January, opponents of a split who live on the Fort Worth side of the Keller ISD used humor and a touch of sarcasm to rally around the idea of an “Alliance ISD” with pride about living on the “wrong side of the tracks” from wealthier Keller neighborhoods.
One mom started making “Alliance ISD” shirts, mugs and other merchandise.
“I am thrilled with the decision,” said Michelle Gibson, a parent who created the merchandise with the Alliance ISD logo to raise funds to help students pay off their school lunch debts. “The goal was to make it where they couldn’t hide behind something. I am so happy that our community banded together against this nonsense.”
On Friday, a follower of the “Alliance ISD” Facebook page suggested someone design a “Reshape the School Board” shirt. She then showed her quick mock-up in pencil, complete with a set of railroad tracks.
This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM.
