PLANO, TX | May 2, 2023 – The Jasper High School Choir Booster Club and Plano Independent School District (PISD) are embroiled in a fight over an attempt by the District to control the Club and its approximately $14,000 currently frozen in the Club's Bank account. “I was made aware of lighting problems at the school stage,” said Choir Booster Club President Laura Cervantes, “and school officials suggested the Club might pay for the repairs, even though maintenance is an ISD responsibility. The Club funds meals, attire, and the cost of competitions and trips for the choir students, not maintenance of school property.”

According to Ms. Cervantes, she began receiving emails from the Jasper Principal and Assistant Principal demanding information not required by the Internal Revenue Service, state and federal law, PISD policy, the Texas Education Agency, or the University Interscholastic League. After repeatedly submitting the required compliance information to campus officials, the Club was disavowed by PISD. She claims that was followed by a threatening email demanding Club funds and telling parents of the choir students that the officers, including Ms. Cervantes, were misusing Club money. Ms. Cervantes filed a grievance with PISD seeking a resolution.  The Club exists as a separate 501(c)3 organization, and Ms. Cervantes asserts the Club’s mail arriving at the school has been withheld, opened, and payees on mailed bank statements were contacted by a PISD attorney to encourage Ms. Cervantes to stop the grievance. PISD administrators and campus staff recruited another group of parents to take over the Club without a vote of the existing members. A District administrator escorted these parents to the bank to change the authorized signers on the Club’s bank account. Ms. Cervantes and the Club’s other officers, officially recognized by the state of Texas and the IRS, hired an attorney at the officers’ own expense to defend the Club, because the account is now frozen.

“This situation is complicated because PISD keeps moving the goal post, making up ‘rules,’ assuming power it does not have, and acting corruptly,” Ms. Cervantes said. “PISD wanted Choir Booster Club money to use at their discretion, bullied parents to try to get that money and may have committed U.S. Postal Service and banking crimes, at worst.” She continued, “At best, PISD was ignorant when they thought they could get the Club’s money without objection. As for our issue, it is simple to resolve. PISD should recognize its error, reverse the actions towards the Club, and most importantly, fulfill a promise made years ago to resolve the inconsistencies between practice, policy, and law so other parents do not suffer this attempted fait accompli. The Jasper Choir Booster Club is not the only victim of this scheme in Plano ISD. But we have the will to defend it from ever happening to another Club again.”

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