Grapevine-Colleyville sets special meeting after board member discusses firing of principal

The Grapevine-Colleyville school board has scheduled a special meeting Monday after a video was shared on social media showing a board member discussing why a Black principal was fired.

The meeting is at 8 a.m Monday at the school administration building, 3051 Ira E. Woods Ave. The agenda includes public comments and an executive session including “to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear complaints or charges against a public officer or employee.”

Newly elected board member Tammy Nakamura attended a school board panel discussion on June 26 sponsored by the Republican National Committee, where she described why James Whitfield, the principal at Colleyville-Heritage High School, was fired, saying his activism was the “straw that broke the camel’s back ... that got him fired.”

Whitfield, who was accused of promoting critical race theory, is on administrative leave until his resignation takes effect next year as part of a settlement agreement with the school district. As part of the settlement, Whitfield and the district agreed to resolve their disputes and not make any additional public statements. Nakamura told the audience that they have to stand up to those “pushing an agenda.”

She also mentioned how most teachers are “wonderful” but there are a few who must be removed from the classroom.

“We cannot have teachers such as these in our schools because they are just poison, and they’re taking our schools down,” she said