Frisco ISD is investigated after several discrimination complaints

Frisco - The Frisco Independent School District is currently undergoing multiple ongoing federal civil rights probes following accusations of discrimination, Dallas Metro News reported.

These claims, filed to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in 2022 and the current year, suggest discrimination concerning disability, sex, race, and age.

Among these complaints, two point towards sex discrimination through sexual harassment, while another pertains to sexual violence. Additional accusations involve the denial of benefits due to disability, sex, and race. Some others hint at hindrances to accessibility and challenges in making academic accommodations.

Earlier this year, the district drew public scrutiny when Marvin Lowe, a trustee of the district, was accused of harassing a transgender student at an educational conference in San Antonio. As per The Dallas Morning News, Lowe, identifying himself as a Republican with alternate views on the topic, confronted a teen student following a session on transgender students in Texas schools.

The complaint quotes Lowe as stating, “Men like to walk around naked with their junk hanging around." However, Lowe has dismissed the allegation, insisting that his approach to the student was driven by compassion. Currently, it remains uncertain whether this complaint against Lowe is part of the open investigations into the Frisco ISD.

Pride Frisco, a charity aimed at supporting LGBTQ communities in Frisco and North Texas, was established by Justin and Jon Culpepper, a married couple. This week, the organization released a press statement indicating that the Frisco ISD is currently under the microscope for 13 open federal civil rights investigations. In response, the school district has stated that this claim is unfounded.

"Frisco ISD currently has seven open OCR investigations," a spokesperson for the district said. "The OCR website lists an investigation under each statute that applies to the allegation. As a result, two of the investigations are listed three times each and two are listed two times each. However, there are only seven open investigations."

The spokesperson affirmed that none of the seven registered complaints were linked to LGBTQ students or related concerns. The district has addressed each of these complaints, and a federal mediator has been assigned to one, aiming for resolution without a formal inquiry, as stated by the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said: "The [complaint] summaries reveal no patterns or commonalities that would lead us to believe there are any systemic issues. In fact, in all seven of these cases, we believe that OCR is likely to determine that the district acted appropriately."

Contrastingly, Justin Culpepper from Pride Frisco remarked that despite the fast-paced influx of new residents in Frisco, the newcomers are gradually coming to terms with the fact that the city may not extend a warm welcome to all.

“Yes, other districts have been facing similar complaints and investigations, but the sheer volume here and the speed at which they were all opened is significant,” Justin said. “This is also in one of the fastest-growing cities in America that has been attempting to sell itself as diverse, tolerant, welcoming.

“Many companies and businesses, families, etc., are relocating here only to realize that the schools are great if you fit a certain mold but their children don't fit that mold and are miserable, and the school leadership refuses to do anything about these issues when they are reported.”

In contrast, Justin Culpepper of Pride Frisco observed that despite the rapid growth of Frisco's population, new arrivals are slowly realizing that the city might not be inclusive and hospitable to everyone.