Public Statement – Transparency & Records Request Update
I want to provide a factual update regarding the public records requests recently submitted concerning Stephen F. Austin Elementary and its representation as a STEM Academy.
On December 11, 2025, I submitted formal Public Information Requests (#1) under the Texas Public Information Act seeking records related to bond representations, STEM designation or certification, public messaging, and related compliance documentation. These requests were submitted to ensure accuracy, transparency, and accountability for families, taxpayers, and the broader community.
On December 19, Brazosport ISD responded with a cost estimate exceeding $500 to access these records, citing staff labor and overhead. The District did not deny that the records exist, nor did it claim any legal exemption. Instead, access to public information was conditioned on advance payment or in-person review.
Transparency is not about summaries or assurances — it is about access to records. These requests involve voter-approved bond representations, public program labeling, and decisions that directly affect a historic community school and its families. Those records matter.
Because this issue involves bond accountability, governance, and potential state and federal compliance implications, a formal oversight record was also provided to appropriate agencies to preserve notice and ensure a shared factual record. That step is lawful, appropriate, and standard when public funds and public trust are involved.
This is not about blame. It is about clarity.
It is not about politics. It is about public integrity.
And it is not about enrollment numbers alone — it is about how decisions are made, represented, and justified.
Families respond to stability. Communities respond to honesty.
The public deserves transparency that is real, accessible, and verifiable.
I will continue to pursue this matter respectfully, lawfully, and in good faith — on behalf of the Jones Creek community, affected families, and every taxpayer who expects accountability when public promises are made.
— Rhonda Clavell Rivera
Founder & Executive Director
Guardians for Transparency Through Truth, Education, and Reform
