At Monday’s Katy ISD Board of Trustees meeting, a speaker accused Superintendent Dr. Lance Hindt of participating in a bullying incident that allegedly happened over 30 years ago. Hindt denied any participation in the incident the speaker described.
The speaker, Greg Barrett (whose legal name is Greg Gay), made his comments and accusation during the public comments portion of the meeting. Trustee meetings are recorded on video, and his comments can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yNllJ3W180&feature=youtu.be.
After Barrett finished speaking and walked away, Hindt was heard off-microphone to say, “This is unbelievable.”
Barrett then was heard to say across the room, “Want to debate it? I have witnesses who were there when it happened.”
Hindt did not engage in a public debate and simply asked Board President Ashley Vann to call the next speaker, which she did.
On Tuesday afternoon, Hindt issued the following statement:
March 20, 2018
“It was difficult for me to listen to a gentleman Monday night recount a bullying incident he said occurred more than 35 years ago. As superintendent in three school districts in Texas, I have always tried to create an environment where every student is safe—physically and emotionally. But when an individual impugns my character and reputation as the instigator of those actions, I am disappointed because it simply is not true. I do not recall this person from my childhood. I did not graduate from the same high school as Mr. Barrett, though we did attend the same junior high in 1978. And my junior high principal—Mr. McMeans—would never have let me (or anyone else) get away with the actions he described.
“I do not suggest that Mr. Barrett was not bullied, only that I was not part of it. Bullying is wrong. Period. It was then and it is today. At Katy ISD, we are always looking for ways to make our campuses and our students safe. I am proud to lead a district that is not afraid to confront bullying behavior—whether in person or online. We are always challenging our teachers and principals to identify harmful behavior and to intervene as necessary.”
Lance Hindt, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Katy ISD