TAYLOR, Texas -- A beloved Taylor ISD principal is fighting to keep her job after the school board voted Monday night to consider firing her.
Back in February, a student at Legacy Early College High School made a terroristic threat against the school, according to the Taylor Police Department.
The student was charged, but she was later allowed to return to the campus and continue the school year, parents and students said.
The school's principal at the time, Rosemary Kelly, said she asked the district for extra resources to help take care of the student's special needs.
Two months after the incident, however, the school district placed Kelly on administrative leave with pay while they investigated "perceived deficiencies in performance," according to a document Kelly showed KVUE.
Kelly said she's had a good record and that she has never once been reprimanded.
At the beginning of May, the district sent Kelly a second letter, which Kelly's lawyer Lindsay Gustafson showed KVUE, alerting her that the school board was going to vote to propose termination of her contract at Monday night's regular school board meeting.
Following a public comment section where students and parents spoke positively about Kelly and her impact at Legacy Early College High School, the board went into closed session to discuss the proposal. When the board returned, members unanimously voted to consider firing Kelly at a future hearing.
"There will be bad things that will happen in life we cannot always avoid," Kelly said to her group of supporters outside the meeting. "But what we can do is we can stand up."
KVUE reached out to a district spokesperson by phone and email Monday afternoon for comment and to ask why, among other questions, the student who made the terroristic threat was allowed back on campus and why the district is considering to fire Kelly.
Board members will take up Kelly's future with the district at another hearing before coming to a final vote, according to Gustafson.
Taylor ISD released the following statement on Tuesday:
"The Taylor ISD Board of Trustees took action on Monday May 21st to propose the termination of Rosemary Kelly, Legacy High School Principal. Taylor ISD recognizes the desire in the community to know more facts related to the proposed termination of employment. However, the requested information cannot be publicly disclosed. The District and all employees are obligated to observe the privacy rights of all students, parents and staff. The facts related to the proposed termination will be addressed through the legal process required by state law. The public release of any information related to any student or staff member is not in keeping with our commitment, policy or law."