Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees Special Session Meeting: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024

ROCKWALL, TX (Aug. 14, 2024) 

NOTE: The following is a submitted press release from Rockwall ISD following the Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees Special Session Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.  Board meeting summaries highlight different agenda items. Board meeting videos are available for viewing within 24-hours of the meeting at www.rockwallisd.com.

Safety and Security Update

District leadership reported to the Board of Trustees a safety and security update addressing questions regarding the recent concerns at Springer Elementary School.
The presentation provided an update on Rockwall ISD’s safety and security measures. It emphasized the District’s compliance with Texas safety standards, which include secured visitor access, regular door audits, mandatory campus drills, and collaboration with local law enforcement to ensure school resource officers and/or District-funded armed security officers are present on every campus.

The District emphasized that any allegation that anyone associated with Rockwall ISD deleted any video and intentionally withheld or destroyed evidence requested by a subpoena is NOT true. The District fully complied with applicable state and federal laws and regulations with regard to subpoenas and court orders. In accordance with the Texas Public Information Act, the District retains copies of all requested videos.
Rockwall ISD cooperated fully and the matter was investigated by:

• The Rockwall County Sheriff’s Department, who was provided all video available as requested,
• The Children’s Advocacy Center of Rockwall County,
• The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (CPS),
• The Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office, and
• The citizens who served on the Rockwall County Grand Jury.

The presentation also recounted a recent incident at Springer Elementary School, where safety measures were heightened for the first day of school after a concerning situation during a school event on Thursday evening before school started. In an abundance of caution, and to limit potential disruptions to the educational environment, additional law enforcement officers were assigned to the school and areas around the campus.
Lastly, the presentation addressed an investigation involving a teacher at Springer Elementary School. Through her attorney, the employee consented to her confidential personnel information shared publicly in hopes of addressing questions raised by the public.

Per Rockwall ISD’s attorney, the District did not return the employee to the classroom until the allegation was fully investigated by the District, law enforcement, and other authorities. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (CPS) on November 11, 2023, notified the District that the allegation of sexual abuse against the teacher was “Ruled Out” stating it was reasonable to conclude that the alleged abuse or neglect did not occur and that their investigation was closed with no further agency involvement.”

Subsequently, on March 27, 2024, the District was notified that the Rockwall County Grand Jury NO BILLED the case involving the teacher. A “no bill” indicates the Grand Jury declined to indict or charge either the teacher after hearing evidence regarding the allegation. Accordingly, no charges were filed and the investigation was closed.

The District completed its investigation reaching the same conclusion as the previous four independent investigations by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Department, Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office and the Rockwall County Grand Jury.

Therefore, the employee returned to the classroom on April 2, 2024 after four independent thorough investigations had determined the allegations were not supported by the evidence and it was reasonable to conclude the alleged abuse or neglect did not occur.

At the time the employee was placed on administrative leave, the District had immediately referred the matter to the appropriate authorities to determine whether the allegations were supported by the evidence. Had the allegations indicated other students were involved and/or had the District received any evidence indicating notification was needed, it would have immediately notified parents. By placing the employee on administrative leave, the District immediately removed any potential threat from the classroom. However, as previously stated, four independent thorough investigations determined the allegations were not supported by the evidence and it was reasonable to conclude the alleged abuse or neglect did not occur.

Because four independent investigations determined the allegations were not supported by the evidence and it was reasonable to conclude the alleged abuse or neglect did not occur. Due to employee privacy rights, the District did not have legal cause to notify parents when the employee returned from administrative leave.

The teacher is currently on administrative leave for her own safety and to limit disruptions to the school environment. The teacher is not on administrative leave due to the prior and/or any additional allegations of abuse or neglect. The District has not received any evidence contradicting the four independent investigations that determined the allegations were not supported by the evidence and it was reasonable to conclude the alleged abuse or neglect did not occur.

The Board of Trustees is reviewing legal options related to providing information to parents regarding employees’ entitled to confidentiality under Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code.

Submitted press release, Rockwall ISD.

  abuse, august 14, board summary, meeting, Rockwall ISD, special session