Irving School Board Member Reprimanded, Accused Of Bullying District Employees
IRVING (CBS 11 NEWS) - Irving ISD is requesting a state investigation of board member Steven Jones over allegations he violated laws and policies governing the district.
The board voted 4-3 Monday night to censure Jones over those allegations.
Board president Ronda Huffstetler said, it is the first time in the district's 100 year history it has done so.
"Of course, it makes me angry. Very angry. This is serious," she said.
The vote has no impact on Jones' standing on the board.
Huffstetler, though, said she will be asking the Texas Education Agency to send a representative to investigate each accusation brought to the board.
Monday night's motion accused Jones of usurping the role of superintendent by, among other things, threatening to terminate district employees, demanding administrators forbid staff from speaking Spanish in schools, and independently investigating a district employee.
Trustees also saw letters from a company addressing "hostile calls" from Jones and letters from two newly hired employees claiming Jones had called them to warn their jobs would not be around more than a year.
"He said I should trust no one in central office," wrote one employee. "I told him I thought he was not supposed to speak with me…. Then he said this conversation never happened."
"These attempts to assassinate my character with baseless allegations will not deter my determination in keeping a strong hold on administrative spending… and student achievement," said Jones.
He accused the district of spending $25,000 in an effort to kick him out of his elected position on the board.
He also said, he looked forward to the May elections, which he expects will seat a more conservative board, one more likely to support him.
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