KELLER, Texas — Keller ISD officials say a resolution allowing volunteer chaplains in the district is in keeping with new state law and that chaplains would not fulfill the roles of district employees like counselors.
But a school board trustee who announced she was stepping down from the school board during the Monday meeting, and some parents, say they’re concerned about the language of the resolution.
Keller ISD is among the latest school districts, as well as Fort Worth ISD and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, to take up the issue of volunteer chaplains in schools after the passage of Senate Bill 763, which allows school districts to employ or accept chaplains as volunteers to “provide support, services, and programs for students as assigned by the board of trustees of the district or the governing body of the school.”
The law went into effect in September and requires school boards across the state to take a vote on the issue by March.
The language of the Keller ISD resolution permits “a district campus to accept as a volunteer a chaplain pursuant to the expectations in this resolution and existing District policy and practice.”
Interim superintendent John Allison said the resolution was meant to keep the district in compliance with state law.
Allison addressed the meeting before public comments began and said, “there’s not any intent to fulfill the role of any employee, including school counselors.”
Instead, Allison said the resolution affirms the “longstanding” district practice of allowing faith leaders to volunteer in schools in the same capacity as any other volunteer.
Board president Charles Randklev also called the notion that chaplains would replace counselors under the resolution “patently false.”
Board member Ruthie Keyes, though, stepped down during the meeting after 11 years on the board amid concerns about the resolution regarding volunteer chaplains. The vote approving the resolution happened after Keyes left the meeting.
“This resolution has locked in my decision to step down from this board,” Keyes said. “I believe it is critical to prioritize open communication, community input, and transparent decision-making to truly serve the interests of our students and their families.”
Keller ISD community opinion
Keller ISD parent Dixie Davis said she’s concerned about the language of the resolution.
“I’m concerned that the language of the resolution is intentionally vague. You said at the start that chaplains would not replace school counselors, but if that’s the case, why have you not made that part explicit in the text of the resolution or in board policies?” Davis said. “You have until March to vote on this resolution. There is no reason to pass this today without clarifying vital details that confirm parental consent and ensure that all students will have access to legitimate, qualified, paid, licensed counseling services in our school.”
Doug Hinds said he supports the resolution.
“I think this is a great compromise. I think this is a great idea to confirm that you already allow chaplains to be here, and you’re just taking the opportunity under the state law to say it,” Hinds said.