What happened: The Midland ISD board voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 6, to begin termination proceedings against South Elementary principal Cynthia Rodriguez, following a district and law enforcement investigation into classroom practices in a Special Education setting. Assistant principal Christy Tynes retired before the meeting.

Superintendent Stephanie Howard said the district’s top priority “remains the safety and well-being of every student.” She confirmed that Jennifer Payne is serving as acting principal and Amanda Courtright as assistant principal to stabilize campus leadership.

Why it matters: Comments on social media have alleged that special-needs students in South Elementary’s life-skills program were restrained in chairs for extended periods.

Go deeper: The investigation began Sept. 12, when a Special Services staff member reported concerns about classroom practices in a Special Education room. The district reviewed surveillance video, contacted Child Protective Services, and launched parallel investigations through MISD Police, Human Resources, and external agencies.

By late September, six employees resigned, and the district placed two administrators on leave. The Texas Rangers, District Attorney’s Office, and Child Protective Services remain involved. Dr. Howard said, “What occurred in Special Education classrooms at South Elementary is completely unacceptable, and the district is taking this matter with the utmost seriousness.”

Between the lines: During public comment on Monday, parents and community advocates called for consistent accountability across all campuses. “Accountability does not stop at the campus doors,” Vanessa Vallejos said. “We have watched principals and district leaders protect themselves instead of protecting our children.”

“Although we are here to discuss the termination of a principal, accountability is a must,” Ebony Coleman said. “This isn’t about one classroom. It is about systemic failures.”

What they’re saying: Trustee Matt Friez told KWEL Radio that the investigation began after “an anomaly with one of the pieces of furniture” in a classroom prompted administrators to review video footage. “Once the video was reviewed, there were some things that they noticed that were not good,” Friez said. “CPS was notified and there was a report filed. Then MISD police opened an investigation.”

Friez said multiple agencies are now reviewing the matter. “We’ve got everybody on this that we should,” Friez said, noting that the Texas Rangers, CPS, and MISD Police are involved.

The bottom line: The board’s unanimous vote authorizes notice of proposed termination for good cause to Cynthia Rodriguez. Trustees Angel Hernandez, Tommy Bishop, and Sarah Burleson were absent. District leaders say South Elementary remains under administrative supervision, with state and local agencies continuing their investigations. MISD has pledged to “continue providing updates throughout the investigation.”