Keller trustees raise more questions around school board’s legal counsel
Two Keller school board members have raised questions about an agenda item for next week’s school board meeting that would confirm Jackson Walker as legal representation for board members in ongoing litigation.
Trustee Chelsea Kelly first posted on social media on Sept. 18 after the agenda for the Sept. 24 meeting was made public.
Kelly wrote the board policy states the consent agenda is intended for routine items — things like approving minutes or standard reports.
“This month, an item of much greater magnitude has been placed in the consent agenda,” she wrote.
Under the Consent Agenda heading is an item labeled “Approval of Jackson Walker LLP as Counsel for Defendants in Cause No. 236-367284-25, pending in the 236th District Court of Tarrant County, Texas and Approval of Expenses over $25,000.”
The case referenced is a lawsuit filed by Keller school district residents seeking to remove from office trustees Charles Randklev, Heather Washington and John Birt, the board president. The plaintiffs allege the trustees violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when discussing splitting the school district in half last year. That plan was formally abandoned in March.
Regarding the approval of Jackson Walker as legal counsel, Kelly went on to write that “items of significant importance deserve open discussion and transparency, not just a quick vote bundled with routine matters.”
Typically, the consent agenda is used to streamline board actions. It is reserved for items up for vote that don’t require discussion. The rules governing the Keller board do, however, allow for a board member to ask that an item be withdrawn from the consent agenda for further consideration.
The decision to confirm Jackson Walker is something Kelly believes should be discussed openly.
In a social media post on Sept. 19, Trustee Randy Campbell said he’d asked the district and the board in August to solicit bids for legal services and that he wanted that put on the agenda for the September board meeting. That request was denied, said Campbell, at least for the time being.
Campbell also pointed out that a new contract with Jackson Walker would have to be approved by the board, not individual trustees.
“I need to see the contractual language before I make any comment on the potential agreement,” said Campbell. “I am not inclined to enter an agreement that leaves the District with an open-ended legal/financial liability.”
Keller board has paid hundreds of thousands for legal counsel
All of this comes at a time of increased scrutiny over the board’s relationship with Jackson Walker and attorney Tim Davis.
In May, the Star-Telegram reported the board had paid Jackson Walker $172,000 over the previous five months. Between June 2022 and May 2025, the board paid more than $500,000 to Jackson Walker and Davis’ previous firm, Cantey Hanger.
The Star-Telegram and at least two Keller district residents requested invoices related to those charges. Ali Williams, a Jackson Walker attorney representing the school district, asked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office to block the documents’ release. That request was denied, and on Sept. 18 the Keller school district, represented by Davis and Jackson Walker, filed a lawsuit against Paxton to reverse the attorney general’s decision.
Kelly told the Star-Telegram she was not aware that lawsuit had been filed, and that she found out about it only after the news broke.
Board President Birt did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the consent agenda item confirming Jackson Walker. Attorney Davis declined to comment, and district spokesman Bryce Nieman did not respond when asked about the lawsuit to bar the release of documents.