TEA Investigating Barbers Hill School District

By Robert Montoya, Investigative Reporter for Texas Scoreboard

  The Texas Education Agency has launched an investigation into the Barbers Hill Independent School District. This comes after heightened scrutiny of the district and its ties with its adjacent education foundation.

  Jake Kobersky, TEA’s director of media relations, wrote to Texas Scorecard that under provisions in state law, “TEA is investigating multiple allegations of statutory noncompliance involving Barbers Hill ISD, including issues related to fiscal practices, governance and oversight processes, use of public resources and electioneering.”

  Specifically, he wrote that the agency “is examining whether district actions violated state law, including matters involving financial decision‑making, leadership roles and responsibilities, public‑funds management, disclosure and reporting obligations, use of contracted services, program administration and other activities subject to state restrictions.”

  Connections between Barbers Hill ISD and the Barbers Hill Education Foundation have become a hot topic in the March Republican primary election between incumbent State Rep. Terri Leo Wilson (R–Galveston) and her challenger, Nathan Watkins.

  Leo Wilson criticized Watkins, both a BHEF director and vice president at Americus Holdings, for dealings between both organizations. BHEF bought property from Americus for more than $6 million, and the two have partnered to develop a luxury apartment complex.

  “I think based on what I have discovered between the ISD and the education foundation and his directorship of the foundation that he is running to make legal what may be illegal,” Leo Wilson stated.

  BHEF sued Leo Wilson for her allegations. Since then, significant crossover between BHEF and Barbers Hill ISD leadership has surfaced. For instance, Greg Poole serves as both the foundation’s executive director and the school district’s superintendent.

  The district and foundation’s financial relationship has also come under scrutiny. The district’s 2024 financial audit stated it “maintains the Foundation’s accounting records” for a fee.

  Dr. Mary Bone, a former Round Rock school trustee, found that Barbers Hill ISD sent BHEF more than $41 million from 2019 to 2021, and in FY 2021 BHEF gave back to the district 2.3 percent in the form of grants out of its close to $30 million in revenue.

  Earlier this week, the foundation filed to drop its lawsuit. Leo Wilson, however, must agree since she filed a motion to dismiss under the Texas Citizens Protection Act. She told Texas Scorecard she has no intention of doing so and looks forward to the April 7 dismissal hearing.

  Greg Poole and Nathan Watkins did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment before publication.