Union asks AISD Board President Pace to step down

Education Austin has called for Kendall Pace, president of the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees, to resign over “offensive” text messages sent to a fellow board member. On Wednesday, Education Austin President Ken Zarifis cited a text, written by Pace, about the possibility of getting state money to potentially set up a charter in the district. In those texts, which can be seen in their entirety over at KUT, Pace wrote, “It will only get approved if we set up a real charter-like (i.e. one with balls to ignore the special interest groups and crazy ignorant community activists and poverty pimps).” Zarifis denounced the language, saying, “We’re disgusted by it. We’re disappointed by it. But mostly we’re hurt that someone would say things such as this nature.” Pace was expected to step down from her position as board president in June, but she has indicated that she may now do so at the board’s next meeting.