Kevin O’Connor Kommentary July 14

College Station ISD (CSISD) school board members at Tuesday’s meeting (April 15) without discussion, unanimously approved the superintendent’s recommendations for administrator contracts for the next two years. That was after ten public speakers asked the board to reconsider the decision to reassign the principal at Rock Prairie elementary. Also speaking was the principal who will be removed, Jeff Durand, and one of his children. Durand said among other things that “I’d like to hope that a small outcome from all of this is that everybody begins to understand just how difficult the role of a campus administrator is.” He also said “I sincerely hope that this interest in the well being of our campus and district continues long after this evening.” He also said “it’s time to focus all this energy and concern away from my future and towards the future of all of our schools in this district, moving forward as best as we can.” He concluded by saying “We have just about five weeks left in this year and I would like to be able guide my campus through those weeks with as much joy as I can muster and as much support as I have witnessed recently. The students and the staff deserves no less.” Board president Jeff Horak said after the public speakers that “I’d like to acknowledge the community’s interest and concern regarding the recent leadership decisions within the district. We feel it is important to provide the clarity about the expectations of our campus leaders and (the) process by which these kinds of decisions are made. While the board of trustees does not take action on these kinds of personnel decisions, we are made aware of the personnel matters including any concerns or actions being taken by district administration to support, coach and evaluate campus leaders. Throughout the support process campus leaders are made aware of expectations and potential outcomes. The intent of this process is to provide ample opportunity to continue in their role to be successful in leading their school community. As a district we hold our leaders to a high standard. And when the standards are not met we have a responsibility to take action that prioritizes success of students, staff, and campuses.” There was a total of 16 public speakers. Five others criticized CSISD central office administrators of making changes that added to the workload of teachers and accused the central office administrators of retaliating against teachers who spoke out. The public speakers received cheers and applause from a standing room only crowd. The remarks were watched by more than 400 viewers on CSISD’s YouTube channel. The only board comments came from the president. There was no response from CSISD employees. Click below to hear some of the public comments and remarks from Jeff Horak during the April 15, 2025 College Station ISD school board meeting. Listen to “College Station ISD school board members approve administrator contracts after hearing criticism from public speakers” on Spreaker.

Brazos County commissioner Wanda Watson disclosed at the end of Tuesday’s meeting (April 15) that there was a private gathering last Friday of stakeholders in the county’s new office complex that will be built across Texas Avenue from the courthouse. The complex includes what Watson calls “The 101 (one-oh-one) Building”, a skywalk over Texas Avenue connecting that building to the courthouse, and an employee parking garage. The new office building would become home to the precinct four justice of the peace and constable offices, adult probation, and the public defender’s office. Watson, who said she attended the meeting because the complex is in her precinct, was joined by the county’s construction project manager, representatives of the future occupants, the county’s I-T, budget, and other departments that will be involved in servicing the office building, “the contractors, the geological folks, the engineering folks, (and) the design folks.” Watson said the meeting provided the opportunity to share what everyone wanted “in terms of a building so that everybody was on the same page.” In March, commissioners awarded a $50 million dollar construction contract and a $4.5 million dollar architect’s contract. Click below to hear Wanda Watson’s comments at the April 15, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Private meeting by those who will be Involved in the construction, occupancy, and operation of Brazos County's new office complex” on Spreaker.

In April 2024, College Station police responded to a call in the Northgate district where the arrest report says the victim had multiple surgeries at multiple hospitals after they were struck and kicked in the face. On Monday (April 14), a College Station man was arrested for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. The arrest report says surveillance video showed the attack, which appeared to be unprovoked, resulted in facial reconstruction surgery that the victim said included having titanium plates being put into his face. 29 year old Deandre Krenek is out of jail after posting a $10,000 dollar bond. A College Station man who was released from a state prison in January 2025 returns to the Brazos County Jail. 24 year old Tyresse Clark was arrested by Bryan police Monday (April 14) for injuring a convenience store clerk the night of March 10th. The BPD arrest report says store video showed outside the store, Clark threw the clerk to the concrete sidewalk and punched her at least twice in the head. After the clerk ran inside the store and started locking the door, Clark broke the glass door but ran away after the door was locked. The arrest report did not say if the victim received medical treatment. Clark remains jailed as of April 16 in lieu of a $100,000 dollar bond. The Bryan police department’s tactical response team was sent to an apartment complex last Saturday (April 12) after 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call from a man who reported killing people in his apartment. The man who made the call was arrested for making a false report and for evidence tampering by trying to remove a record of the call from his phone. Court records also show 20 year old Kabrian Orosco is awaiting trial on charges from November of 2023 for unlawful carrying of a gun, evidence tampering by getting rid of a gun that was later found by officers, and evading arrest. Orosco remains jailed as of April 16 in lieu of bonds on the new charges totaling $29,000 dollars.