AUSTIN (KXAN)—Austin Independent School District officials recommended terminating a beloved principal and her supervisor days before she turned in her resignation, according to an internal investigation report provided through an open records request.   The recommendation to fire the former A nn Richards School for Young Women Leaders principal, Nicole Griffith, came after an Office of Professional Standards investigation determined that she and the executive director of secondary schools, Dr. Stacie Holiday, violated multiple district policies while handling a crisis situation with a student. The report alleges Griffith—at Holiday's direction—withdrew a student from school without properly notifying the child’s parent or engaging a truancy officer and accuses both educators of failing to refer the student for a special education evaluation despite what the district called “clear indicators.”   The report also alleges Griffith and Holiday delayed the students’ reenrollment based on disability-related symptoms and without lawful justification. Griffith’s attorney said the report, which is heavily redacted, is “flawed” and has “numerous inaccuracies.” Griffith’s attorney said that due to student privacy laws, his client could not comment on the details of this specific case. “She will state unequivocally that her actions in this matter were all done at the direction of and/or approval of her direct supervisors, the AISD Legal Department, medical professionals and appropriate government agencies,” Griffith’s attorney, Tiger Hanner, said. "There is nothing more important to Nicole Griffith than the safety and security of her students at the Ann Richards School." The Exit: Teachers leave. Students suffer. The report alleges that Holiday issued the directive to withdraw the student and then instructed Griffith not to reenroll the student. It also states that Holiday said she was unaware that no formal written notice was provided to the parent. “She explicitly acknowledged that the district lacked structured processes for handling such complex situations effectively,” the report stated- a concern echoed by other district employees interviewed throughout the report. KXAN reached out to Holiday but has not heard back. We will update this if that changes. The report stated that while Griffith “deferred to directives from her [executive director], she did not challenge them—even when they contradicted district policy or equitable access expectations.” The report went on to say that the “concerns about the student well-being were valid,” but the decision to delay enrollment was “not grounded in policy” and “resulted in the exclusion of a vulnerable student during a time of acute need.” With a 100% graduation rate, The Ann Richards School for Young Women is setting students up for success During a tense board meeting on Thursday, former Austin ISD employee Cynthia Soliz, also implicated in the investigative report, told trustees the report details only a fraction of what happened.   “It is roughly 20 percent of the story. It covers four days – and it is vastly, like shockingly incomplete,” Soliz told board members on Thursday. “If one complaint and one grievance and an incomplete investigation can end the career of multiple marginalized women who led the district – what does that say about our ability to retain excellent leaders?" District officials told KXAN, "We are confident in our abilities to perform thoughtful and thorough investigations. " They added that the district employs processes to thoroughly investigate matters that warrant investigation. Records show Griffith resigned on March 26, but according to her attorney, she has rescinded her resignation. Over the last several weeks, Ann Richards School community members, including students, have demanded additional information and Griffith's reinstatement. Austin ISD said it is limited in speaking on staffing matters, but some district leaders met with families last week to discuss the situation - and students and parents were outspoken during Thursday’s board meeting. “If she made a mistake, use restorative justice, wrap her in support so she can learn from it,” one 6th-grade Ann Richards student said to the board. “She brought strong and compassionate leadership to our school.” “Children and families who’ve experienced harm can’t always speak up. Grievance and investigation report legally supports termination, and that decision should be upheld,” a community member said during public comment. Thursday’s school agenda noted that the board could discuss matters related to Ann Richards School of Young Women Leaders during the executive session. School board trustees did not respond to KXAN’s request for comments, but AISD officials told KXAN that the district would continue to assess the next steps. The school board will have to evaluate more than just personnel matters in the wake of the investigative report. Multiple employees interviewed as a part of the investigation described confusion over procedures for complex situations like the one at the center of Griffith and Holiday’s departure. A school district spokesperson told KXAN the policy on withdrawal and enrollment has been referred to the board policy committee for review. ...read more read less