Sarah Terrell, the community activist who told the Houston ISD Board of Managers how disappointed she was in them at a January board meeting and was subsequently arrested and thrown in jail for 18 hours, was told Thursday that she is barred from HISD campuses and facilities until July 1, 2025.
Terrell received an email copy of a certified letter that said she was restricted from all HISD locations and would not be allowed to attend any HISD activities, meetings or picking up and HISD students for any reason on HISD property.
Terrell has a grandson in the first grade at an HISD elementary school.
The letter, signed by HISD Chief Facilities & Maintenance Operations Officer Alishia K. Jolivette says “HISD regrets having to take this action, however, the safety of our school community is our top priority and we must err on the side of caution when individuals threaten the safety of the learning environment. Thus, you are hereby notified that your attempt to enter any HISD building or attend any activity or meeting you will be considered trespassing and you will be subject to arrest.”
On January 16, as the lengthy board meeting neared conclusion, the board unanimously voted to sell a number of its properties, something Terrell objected to. She called out to the board from her front row seat in a room almost devoid of any audience.
After loudly telling the board how disappointed in them she was, Terrell was asked to leave and when she refused, was dragged from her seat by HISD police officers, handcuffed and taken to jail where she was charged with criminal trespass and not released until the next night.
“I said ‘You are so disappointing.’ Then I said ‘You are the most disappointing people.’ And then the ohter thing I said is ‘You are gutting this district.'”
“For that they think I’m a threat,” she said, adding that she did leave after her initial resistance.
On Thursday she received a notice from board services when she signed up for the public speaking portion of the meeting that she could only communicate to the board via Zoom, not in person.
Terrell received pre trial diversion in the case. She had to take a two-hour an online class “Better Decision Making.”
Of course, that’s a class that some HISD execs might benefit from as well.
