Summary of Events

In February 2007, Waller ISD held a meeting to discuss the allocation of funds from a $49 million dollar bond that would be issued. In the meeting, it was agreed that $7 million would go towards repairing and renovating the Waller High School Stadium. On a Sunday night, after schools had been let out, and without posting proper notice- a handful of board members met again. This time, the covert group of members amended the original decision and allocated $18 million to build a brand new stadium for the high school, while giving H.T. Jones Elementary less than 1% of the bond.

            Jones Elementary is a 50- year old school that once served the district’s African American population during segregation is now a historic beacon of the Prairie View community. The school is in poor physical condition and has not been maintained to the standards of other predominately white schools in the district. Is the only school in the district without air conditioning in the gymnasium. The library is poorly stocked, the playground is anything but, and the voters of Prairie View are outraged. By undermining their right to attend such meetings, only 7 people were allowed to make crucial decisions on how to handle the substantial bond money.

           The district is planning to spend $49.1 million in the predominately White city of Waller, Texas, while appropriating a little more than $200,000 in the City of Prairie View which is home to Jones. “What is interesting is that if the judge rules in favor of the district, he or she will do so in spite of numerous violations and/or actions by district officials”, stated Judge Charleston referring to charges brought by him against Waller ISD for violating state open meetings laws, voting rights laws, and federal guidelines related to elections. “Rather than use these funds to support or replace a 50-year old dilapidated facility like Jones Elementary, they will use them to start building a new $18,000,000 football stadium.”

          Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has refused to approve the release of the bonds until the dispute has been settled.

          In October, Judge Charleston was arrested at Jones Elementary while attempting to report to the school's principals office to acquire permission to photograph the schools dilapidated conditions. While in custody, Charleston was forcefully pushed against a wall by the Harris County Sheriffs deputies and was then taken to a nearby hospital for stitches by the officers who were unaware that he is a judge. Charleston was released and then rearrested several days later under equally ludicrous circumstances.

          On October 1, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee ordered a Department of Justice probe by issuing a riveting letter recounting the events occurring in Prairie View to Inspector General Glenn Fine. In the letter, Jackson Lee outlines the eight key violations Waller ISD is responsible for and recommends an investigation into the school districts misconduct be implemented.

          Now, the district attorney is investigating allegations that Mike Marcus, the assistant superintendent of Waller Independent School District, made a retaliatory threat against Judge DeWayne Charleston- whose court action demanding equality is blocking the release of the $49.3 million in school construction money. According to an affidavit by the clerk of Waller County Justice of the Peace DeWayne Charleston, Juanita Vela, a person who identified himself as "Mike" told her by phone last week that if Charleston were to go to his "neck-of-the-woods he's liable to get shot because it's where rednecks live." Waller County District Attorney Elton R. Mathis said in a letter to Charleston that he is referring the matter to the sheriff's department, adding that "comments about shooting a judge (whether in jest or made seriously) are never appropriate much less from someone who holds a professional position within the community." Charleston's lawyer, Ty Clevenger, sent Waller Superintendent Richard McReavy a letter demanding that Marcus be disciplined. "They need to suspend him immediately and if the investigation confirms that he made those comments, he should be fired," Clevenger said.

          It is imperative that the public shows support to Save Jones Elementary during this critical time.

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