LORENA, Texas — The Lorena Independent School District school board gaveled in for a regularly scheduled monthly meeting on September 23. The lawsuit the district and one of it's principal face wasn't on the board's agenda, but still the board had to hear about it.
Parents and advocates are still showing up in numbers to share their concerns and requests when it comes to the employment of the Lorena Primary School April Jewell and Joe Kucera, the district's superintendent.
"I am asking this board to do what is right," said Allison Kelley. "Put the principal on leave and more importantly remove the superintendent who has chosen to ignore these serious allegations. Our children deserve leadership that prioritizes their safety, not administrators or lawyers who protect their own."
There are other school board meeting attendees who share their thoughts of the board, noting that they stand behind their actions and decisions.
"I know that we are in a very difficult time.... I just encourage you guys to keep at it and keep doing all that you can," said Jason Blanek. "I just want to encourage you guys to stay the course. I think we've already been through four investigations at this point and the school has comes out ok on
The civil lawsuit and handling of the situation is one that is getting more attention from the state level.
State Board of Education (SBOE) members have attended previous school board meetings. They shared their concerns about the handling and also the division it's creating in the community to the board and attendees on Aug. 26.
SBOE Secretary Patricia Hardy said since the Aug. 26 board meeting she attended, she has met with the Lorena ISD superintendent and the school board president to talk about the situation. 6 News talked to Hardy on the phone on Sept. 23. She said she still has great concerns, but realizes there are different points of view on what's unfolding in Lorena ISD. Hardy said she is anxious to see what the Texas Education Agency investigation will reveal.
The civil lawsuit is currently held up in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Throughout the meeting, other Lorena ISD stakeholders requested the board to consider making their meetings more accessible with streaming options and better communication, look further into books being available to students and the handling of the evacuation of Lorena ISD schools in mid-September.