Ousted Principal Says Board Member Engineered Reassignment
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
FRISCO (CBS 11 NEWS) - Accusations of a hidden agenda come on the heels of the battle over a beloved principal's job.
When hundreds of protesters took to the street chanting, "We want answers," they were echoing Principal Sylvia Palacios herself.
In her formal grievance filed late Wednesday night, Palacios writes that she was never given a clear reason from the superintendent why she's being removed from Frisco High School.
"The only thing we've gotten is, this is in the best interest of the district, and we think your skills are better suited at this new assignment," Palacios attorney Tiger Hanner said.
Hanner insists that new assignment is retribution engineered by an angry school board member with a personal vendetta against Palacios.
"This is strictly to placate a board member and her group of friends, influential families, to quiet them or protect his own job," Hanner said.
Board members did not respond to our request for comment. Nor did the superintendent, but on Tuesday, Dr. Jeremy Lyon denied the allegation.
"This was my decision, and when you hear a rumor that a school board member or members pressured the superintendent, I know in my heart that that didn't occur," Dr. Lyon said Tuesday.
But it's a narrative we've heard repeatedly from protestors convinced that Palacios was punished for standing up to a small group of parents seeking preferential treatment for their children.
Dr. Lyon has said the decision was based in part on Palacios' performance this school year, but an appraisal included in the grievance shows high marks.
"Dealing with that misinformation is something that we have definitely had to respond to and will continue to respond to deep into the summer," Dr. Lyon said Tuesday.
The district has 10 business days to respond to the formal grievance. If the superintendent does not reverse his decision to reassign Palacios, she can make her appeal directly to the Board of Trustees.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
