Judson ISD’s school board is suddenly in the spotlight after a recent public meeting set off a petition drive to remove board president Monica Ryan from her leadership role and investigate how she has used her position. Trustee José Macias has called for a special meeting to look into allegations that Ryan abused her authority and intimidated district staff.
The petition, launched last Wednesday, urges trustees to pass a resolution of no confidence and strip Ryan of her duties as board president. The petition’s public page lists 181 verified signers, according to Change.org.
Trustee Seeks Investigation
District 4 Trustee José Macias said he requested a special meeting so the board can determine whether the accusations against Ryan hold up. “I am not saying that she has conducted herself inappropriately,” Macias told KSAT. He has invited anyone with concerns to contact him and lists 210-386-0075 as a public phone number on his Unity37 page.
Accuser’s Allegations
At Saturday’s meeting, Lisa Butler, a Judson alumna and former parent, alleged that Ryan intimidated teachers and administrators and used her office to benefit her children, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Butler also claimed that Ryan’s daughter was allowed to take Spanish II while in sixth grade. “Spanish 2 is a freshmen class,” Butler said, a detail reported by FOX San Antonio.
Ryan Denies And Welcomes Scrutiny
Ryan has rejected the accusations and said she would welcome an investigation. She told the San Antonio Express-News that the complaints are “completely factually untrue.” She also wrote on Facebook that targeting colleagues’ families is “repulsive and shameful,” as KSAT reported.
Board Turmoil And Budget Strain
The push to scrutinize the board president follows a tense Jan. 10 meeting that ended with a 6-1 vote to place Superintendent Milton “Rob” Fields on paid administrative leave, a move that laid bare deep divisions on the board as trustees wrestle with steep budget shortfalls, according to Texas Public Radio. Those financial pressures, combined with declining enrollment and other operational strains, have kept the board’s decision-making under close local watch.
What’s Next
As of Friday, no special investigative meeting had been posted on the district’s calendar, which lists only its regular board sessions on the public schedule, according to the district’s meetings page. Butler says she plans to file a lawsuit to ensure an investigation moves forward, FOX San Antonio reports.
Legal And Procedural Notes
Any formal removal of a board officer would be handled internally by the board under its own policies and grievance procedures. “Please keep in mind that it is a public meeting, not a meeting of the public,” the district notes on its community input page, language that underscores the limits on how trustees and members of the public may press complaints and the steps the board must follow when considering formal actions.
