Carroll ISD to leave the Texas Association of School Boards

The Carroll ISD school board has voted to cut ties with the state's association of school boards over diversity and inclusion policies that the board feels do not align with the district. The board voted 5-1 to leave the association next year, stating that they object to its political stances on certain issues. The TASB charges a membership fee, with districts able to pay additional fees for other services.

This decision comes amid several federal civil rights investigations into the district for discrimination. Carroll ISD has been in the spotlight in recent years, with the school board rolling back diversity and inclusion policies, particularly those implemented after a 2018 video showing white students using the n-word. Additionally, the district caught criticism in 2021 over its book removal policies.

Republican Texas lawmakers sent a letter to districts in January, urging them to leave the Texas Association of School Boards over what they called "woke" policies. The letter took issue with the TASB's guidelines on transgender students, which call for districts to protect students from discrimination and bullying and to comply with federal law regarding bathroom use and other issues.

While the majority of the school board agreed to leave the TASB, there was some debate. One board member wanted the board to slow down the process, suggesting that the district should conduct research to compare the costs of using a different vendor. However, Board President Cameron Bryan and others argued that the district should not give money to an organization with policies its members do not agree with.

The move to leave the TASB is not yet official and will not take effect until the end of the current school year. The superintendent will now explore alternative vendor prices and report back to the board to sign new service contracts for 2024.