Joshua ISD parents take to social media after four NJE teachers resign
Apr. 1—Four Joshua ISD teachers resigned Thursday, leaving many district parents confused and in several cases outraged and taking to social media.
Numerous posts made by parents and community members indicated that the district fired the teachers in question for allowing students to get free lunches for them.
"However, as is often the case, there is more to this matter and initial information shared by individuals, who the district can only assume are receiving secondhand information, is wholly false at worst and misleading at best," according a Friday JISD release.
The majority of social media claims stemming from the incident are, according to the release, "baseless and entirely without merit."
JISD has not released the names of the teachers who resigned from North Joshua Elementary School.
JISD, through the Friday release, denied all inflammatory allegations posted on social media as well as any suggestions that the district took any actions contrary to federal law.
That all students receive free lunch under the federal National School Lunch program is true, district officials said.
"This program was put in place to assist parents and students who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is vital for students who experience food insecurity," according to the release.
Officials added that JISD takes seriously and will ensure that students are properly fed while in their care.
"It is also true that four teachers suddenly left employment with our district without notice," according to the release. "However, this is where the truth in the allegations put forth by certain individuals stops."
Allegations that the district fired the four teachers is false, according to the release.
"To begin, the district was made aware that certain staff would make students who had a packed lunch from home use their lunch card, go through the lunch line and receive a free lunch under the National School Lunch program," according to the release. "After receiving the free lunch, students would give it to certain teachers to eat. This practice occurred consistently throughout the school year and was captured on district security cameras."
District officials consulted with attorneys concerning the proper legal steps to take in the matter.
"Administration met with those staff members regarding the seriousness of such actions," according to the release. "The teachers then voluntarily and of their own volition admitted to this behavior and resigned from employment. Not one teacher chose to fight potential termination, but again admitted guilt and voluntarily resigned."
Many community members have labeled the students' actions an act of kindness and/or said the teachers' mistake should not warrant separation of employment.
Such is not the case, district officials said.
"The act of receiving free federal lunches which one is not entitled to is fraudulent behavior, abuse of official capacity and theft of federal funds carrying with it criminal sanctions under Texas Penal Code 39.02," according to the release. "Further, such conduct carries civil penalties up to and including the withdrawal of federal funding from JISD. A penalty which threatens to cripple not only the National School Lunch program but also other federally funded programs at JISD.
"Lastly, Texas Education Code Section 21,006 requires school district superintendents to submit a report to the State Board of Educator Certification when there is evidence an educator illegally transferred, appropriated or expended school property or funds or committed a crime, any part of such crime having occurred on school property or at a school-sponsored event."
JISD officials stressed that no students are to blame for these incidents, rather only the former staff members involved.
"The district does not provide this information to you as a way to condemn or in any way hurt our employees or former employees," according to the release. "Rather, JISD wishes to distribute accurate and transparent information to its stakeholders.
"Despite claims to the contrary, this matter is serious with the possibility to threaten district funding. As a result, it must be handled with the utmost care. JISD will continue to act in the best interests of its students, staff and community and safeguard the funds which taxpayers have entrusted to us."
