10/23/2024
UPDATE: Last week, North Side High School parents and community members reached out to FWISD Interim Superintendent and all school board trustees to express their frustration and concerns regarding the investigation around the 9/13/2024 North Side High School/Arlington Heights football game. They also requested to have 1:1 meetings with the Interim Superintendent and each of the school board trustees.
Fort Worth ISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar, Roxanne Martinez, FWISD Trustee, District 9,
Dr. Camille Rodriguez, Fort Worth ISD Trustee Wallace Bridges, FWISD Trustee Anael Luebanos Dist. 8, Anne Darr for Fort Worth School Board responded to the inquiry for a meeting with the members of the North Side community and were able to hear their concerns.
Unfortunately, the community did not get a response from Quinton "Q" Phillips for FWISD, Chair of the Racial Equity Committee. No communication has been received from Trustee Phillips regarding meetings for the Racial Equity Committee since the incident was made public. This is disappointing as one of the community demands was reinstatement of the REC meetings. The lack of transparency and communication from Trustee Phillips shows we have a lot of work to do regarding the leadership we have in FWISD and when it comes to a committed focus for Racial Equity in our district.
Kevin Lynch For FWISD School Board District 5 also did not respond to the inquiry last week and has not communicated with the North Side community since the incident. As trustee of the Arlington Heights pyramid, this would be a great opportunity to build relationships and solidarity against racism in Fort Worth ISD. We need Trustee Lynch to do more to build unity amongst our Fort Worth ISD community.
Tobi Jackson FWISD Board Trustee - District 2 is the person who read the FWISD statement at the school board meeting on 10/22/2023 (due to technical difficulties, FWISD President Martinez was experiencing), Trustee Jackson has not engaged with the North Side community when requested. Her lack of response is of concern as she is the longest serving school board trustee in FWISD and a former President of the School Board. We need stronger leadership and action from Trustee Jackson in order for FWISD to become the district we can be. So far during her long tenure, the district has not fulfilled its promise.
Dr. Michael Ryan FWISD Board Trustee-District 7 has not responded to any communication or shown any leadership in the space towards Racial Equity. However, we see time and again that Trustee Ryan is willing to communicate and coordinate with community members who are working to dismantle the important racial equity work in FWISD.
After 41 days, FWISD has finally made a public statement acknowledging the racist attacks against North Side cheerleaders during the game against Arlington Heights. After the conclusion of the FWISD investigation, no student accountability was able to be reached. A third-party investigation is being launched. It is important at this moment that the adults step up and ensure that accountability is reached for any students involved and any adults that did not do their part to protect the North Side students with a proper response during the football game.
During the school board meeting, former Arlington Heights parent Hollie Plemons was confronted while she laughed at Trustee Dr. Camille Rodriguez's remarks about her own experiences with racist microaggressions, disrespecting the North Side community once again.
We will not let racist incidents like these go unchecked. We will continue to fight for a safe and inclusive environment for all students in FWISD. It's crucial that we are united against racism in FWISD and demand better from our school district!
