Resident sues Grapevine-Colleyville school district over alleged free speech violations
A resident is suing the Grapevine-Colleyville school district and the board president alleging his constitutional right to free speech was violated when he tried to speak during a recent school board meeting.
Mitchell Ryan is suing the district and school board president Jorge Rodriguez in the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth.
Ryan suit alleges that during the Aug. 23 board meeting, Rodriguez repeatedly shut him down when he talked about Colleyville Heritage Principal James Whitfield who is currently on paid administrative leave and is facing the possibility of his contract not being renewed.
In his lawsuit, Ryan believes he “has been and will be prohibited from addressing the board regarding Principal Whitfield’s efforts to promote critical theory at Colleyville Heritage High School.”
Whitfield has spoken out publicly when a former school board candidate alleged that he was teaching and promoting critical race theory.
Ryan alleged that, while he was prevented from speaking against Whitfield, the principal’s supporters were allowed to speak and to use his name.
The suit alleges that the school board adopted and published an official “speech content” policy which prohibits citizens from identifying district employees and others by name during the public forum.
During the Aug. 23 board meeting, Ryan attempted to speak about Whitfield, but the suit alleges that Rodriguez continuously prevented him from speaking while allowing Whitfield’s supporters to speak.
Ryan said that there are 56 languages spoken in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district and said he supports Whitfield’s posting photos showing the principal with his wife on the beach while celebrating their anniversary.
“I thought it was tasteful. I thought….”
Rodriguez pounded his gavel and Ryan continued speaking. “Back to Dr. Whitfield, what he did was totally fine, and I wanted to…”
Rodriguez said “Mr. Ryan, Mr. Ryan, we already gave you the instructions.”
Ryan asked if he was being told he couldn’t finish his comments.
Rodriguez said, “I am telling you that you cannot be mentioning and making complaints about employees during open forum.”
Ryan said that he would start over and not mention Dr. Whitfield again as the audience shouted in protest. Rodriguez than told Ryan that he got his last warning.
Ryan said he wanted to talk about the school district and equity before his time ran out.
Officials from the Grapevine-Colleyville school district did not respond to an email seeking comment. A hearing requesting a temporary restraining order is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday.
