Sandi Walker was one of two trustees who issued apologies after parents spoke out about the crew filming students without their consent.
KELLER, Texas — A Keller ISD school board member announced on Facebook Sunday she will resign from her position.
In a post from her now-deleted page, Sandi Walker wrote she decided to resign as a trustee after prayer and conversations with friends and family. Walker added she was proud of what the board had accomplished in her nearly two years as a member.
"Over the last 20 months, I have had the privilege to serve the KISD community," Walker wrote. "Thank you all for your support and kindness. My faith is in Jesus and I can rest in the confidence of knowing His plans are good."
Walker was one of two KISD trustees who issued apologies amid controversy about an Evangelist film crew from the Netherlands who was allowed into a school and filmed students without the district's or parents' consent. The district confirmed this happened on Feb. 9.
In a letter to Central High School families, KISD Superintendent Tracy Johnson said the crew was on campus to conduct an interview with Walker, who was later joined by fellow trustee Micah Young. The crew then toured the school with Walker and interviewed students and employees.
"The District and the Board were not aware of the scheduled interview," Johnson said in the letter. "KISD administrators have been in contact with the film company who have assured us that no students or teachers would be visible in the video that they are producing."
Parents frustrated by the incident Sunday called Walker's resignation "welcome."
"I don't want my kids used as political pawns," Central High School parent Laney Hawes told WFAA Sunday. "My kids aren't props. I'm angry they came in and filmed my kids to be props for their political agenda."
Hawes and others expressed concerns about their children's safety, too. The district has not explained whether the film crew went through normal safety screenings.
"They had cameras and bags and suitcases," parent Stacy Rimes said. "What if they had something different?"
"It made me pretty angry that these people from a whole different country who we know nothing of were roaming around the halls," Rimes added.
Board president Charles Randklev Sunday told WFAA he commends Walker for taking "full responsibility for her actions" and thanked her for service to the district.
"As elected officials, we must always hold ourselves to a higher standard," Randklev added. "I hope Mrs. Walker’s resignation serves as an example of how all the adults in the room should handle their mistakes."
In an apology later removed from her Facebook page, Walker wrote, “I recently participated in a foreign documentary focused on public schools in Texas. Some filming took place while students were present. I take safety and privacy of our students seriously. I apologize for allowing students to be captured on film.”
In Young's apology, he said he briefly assisted in the interviews and did not see students being interviewed.
"I regret if any students were captured on film," Young wrote. "The safety and privacy of our students is of utmost importance to me. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve KISD as a Trustee and we will work together to ensure our students safety and privacy are protected on campus."
The superintendent says the film crew assured them no students or teachers would be visible in their final product. The district says its lawyers have "directed the film crew to destroy all footage it collected or return it to Keller ISD."
Despite district officials' saying they weren't aware of the scheduled interview, the film crew said in a statement to WFAA that it "obtained permission to record at the school in advance."
"The Evangelical Broadcasting, a channel that broadcasts on National Television in the Netherlands, has recorded at Central High School, part of Keller ISD, for a program called ‘God, Jesus, Trump!’. This program is a neutral journalistic program that examines Christian culture in the USA," the statement from the film crew read. "The film crew obtained permission to record at the school in advance. The film crew went through all standard registration and administration procedures upon entering the building, and the crew was warmly welcomed by the staff that day. As stated prior, all children will be unrecognizable, and all ethical and journalistic guidelines were applied during the recording and will be applied in the process of making this program."
Keller ISD's board could call a special election to replace Walker, or appoint someone to finish her term ending in May 2025. Randklev Sunday told WFAA the board will not appoint a replacement during the current election season.
"Our number one job is to listen to those we serve," Randklev said. "Appointing a new member in the middle of a political campaign does not align with our duty to act in the best interest of children."
In May, Tarrant County voters must already replace another Keller ISD trustee who resigned in frustration with the board.
Walker and Young did not respond to WFAA's request for comment Sunday.
NOTE: The following video was uploaded on Feb. 16.
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