![\"Meeting](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_CT_kellerisdp2_04_5_1_9SPQQTQS_L877235284.JPG\" "\\"Meeting")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Meeting attendees file into the room prior to a Keller School Board meeting regarding the possible spit of the school district and the resignation of the Keller ISD Superintendent at the Keller Education Center on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.<\/p>\n
Chris Torres<\/p>\n
ctorres@star-telegram.com<\/p>\n
Everyone understands the axiom that justice delayed is justice denied.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s more to it when that delay involves the public\u2019s ability to see its own government\u2019s records<\/a>. Good governance, accountability for mistakes or malfeasance, and better decision-making and stewardship of public resources are all harmed when simple requests for information are deliberately \u2014 and often cynically \u2014 tangled up in legal red tape. Just such a scheme is ongoing in the Keller and Grapevine-Colleyville school districts<\/a>, and Attorney General Ken Paxton\u2019s office is aiding and abetting the assault on the public\u2019s right to know.<\/p>\n Last year, the Star-Telegram asked the districts (as did a handful of citizens) for details on bills they paid for services from lawyer Tim Davis and his firm, Jackson Walker. In Keller, the information centers on Davis\u2019 legal work over the since-abandoned proposal to divide the district into two<\/a>.<\/p>\n Such requests fall under the Texas Public Information Act, the venerable law that asserts the obvious notion that data generated by the people\u2019s governments belongs to the people and, with reasonable exceptions, should be available for review. Paxton\u2019s office is the arbiter of when those exceptions should apply. And the professionals there ruled against a request from the school districts to keep the information secret, which asserted a claim of attorney-client privilege.<\/p>\n The decision reinforced what should be obvious to all: Basic information about use of taxpayer money should be made public without delay or obfuscation. The school districts sued Paxton\u2019s office nine months ago. The dispute reaches back even further, when the Keller school board released Jackson Walker invoices approaching $172,000 with almost no detail on the services provided<\/a>, a cynical but unsurprising attempt to obscure the cost of the underhanded district-split effort.<\/p>\n Now, Paxton\u2019s office should be vigorously defending its finding in court, but the suit has languished. Whether that\u2019s due to overworked staff, political considerations or a change of position, we don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n The Star-Telegram and other requestors could sue to try to force action. But that\u2019s costly and time-consuming, and frankly, we shouldn\u2019t have to. This is the public\u2019s business, and the public\u2019s attorney should handle it with dispatch and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n Regrettably, though, that person is Ken Paxton<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the three terms in which he has manipulated his office and let whole parts of it wither, the public-records division has faltered in its duties. Decisions take too long, whether because of staffing challenges or delay tactics. That failure has encouraged local governments to bring obviously weak attempts to block the release of records<\/a>, knowing that they can at least delay some potential embarrassment.<\/p>\n Officials in cities, counties, school districts, police departments and all kinds of offices that you fund have also figured out that they can aggressively seek to redact documents, knowing, again, that any plea for the attorney general to enforce the law with enthusiasm or at least urgency will be ground to dust in the crippled operation Paxton will soon leave behind.<\/p>\n In a republic, it\u2019s vital that citizens are able to hold their elected representatives accountable, particularly on matters of spending and hiring decisions. This should not be dismissed as a \u201cmedia\u201d issue or special pleading; this is about what voters have a right to see from their governments.<\/p>\n The AG\u2019s office should immediately respond and vigorously fight the suits. If it becomes necessary to appeal, it should do so without delay. If a twisted court ruling lets the school districts obfuscate on this basic but crucial information, the Legislature should clarify the law\u2019s application.<\/p>\n And whichever state senator wins the election for attorney general, Republican Mayes Middleton<\/a> of Galveston or Democrat Nathan Johnson<\/a> of Dallas, must send a clear signal that the days of Paxton running cover for local governments to cover up bad decisions or even potential misdeeds are over.<\/p>\n BEHIND THE STORY MORE <\/a> Hey, who writes these editorials? <\/p>\n Editorials are the positions of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram\u2019s institutional voice. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen<\/a>, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy<\/a>, columnist; and Ryan J. Rusak<\/a>, opinion editor. Most editorials are written by Rusak. Editorials are unsigned because they represent the board\u2019s consensus positions, not necessarily the views of individual writers.<\/p>\n Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.<\/p>\n How are topics and positions chosen? <\/p>\n The Editorial Board meets regularly to discuss issues in the news and what points should be made in editorials. We strive to build a consensus to produce the strongest editorials possible, but when we differ, we put matters to a vote.<\/p>\n The board aims to be consistent with stances it has taken in the past but usually engages in a fresh discussion based on new developments and different perspectives.<\/p>\n We focus on local and state news, though we will also weigh in on national issues with an eye toward their impact on Texas or the Dallas-Fort Worth area.<\/p>\n How are these different from news articles or signed columns? <\/p>\n News reporters strive to keep their opinions out of what they write. They have no input on the Editorial Board\u2019s stances. The board consults their reporting and expertise but does its own research for editorials.\u00a0<\/p>\n Signed columns by writers such as Allen, Kennedy and Rusak contain the writer\u2019s personal opinions.\u00a0<\/p>\n How can I respond to an editorial, suggest a topic or ask a question? Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! <\/p>\n We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news \u2014 and to publish those views in the Opinion section.<\/p>\n \u2022 Letters should be no more than 150 words. <\/p>\n \u2022 Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. <\/p>\n \u2022 Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. <\/p>\n You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: <\/p>\n \u2022 Email letters@star-telegram.com<\/a> (preferred).<\/p>\n