By signing this petition, I certify that I am or have been a parent, grandparent, student, alumni, staff, former staff or friend of Hyde Park Schools (HPS) or member of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. I am signing because I strongly support the following positions about the Church’s recent actions in taking over HPS' Board and management of the School.

#1 Recently Hyde Park Baptist Church took action to eliminate all current parents from positions on the HPS' Board of Directors. The Church replaced them with its own employees, Deacons and close relatives of employees, most of whom had no prior experience with or commitment to supporting the School. None of the new Board members handpicked by the Church currently pay tuition or have children who attend the school. I strongly oppose this change and urge the Church to  immediately remove all HPS Board members with conflicts of interest, remove all members who are not parents or parents of alumni, and replace them with parents of current HPS students or alumni. The ByLaws provide for this and it has been the course of conduct for the Church AND School since 2008.

#2 - The School is still on probation with its accreditation organization ACTABS. This has been the case for almost six months, despite more than three clear written directives of what the Church and Church lead Board must to do resolve all deficiencies and regain full accreditation. To date, they have refused to do so. I urge the School and Church to immediately rectify this and make the changes required by ACTABS’ most recent communication so that HPS again has full accreditation. Putting this accreditation at risk wastes years of hard work, dedication and management o the highest caliber by our Head of Schools, Leanne Messer, and past parent-lead Boards of Directors.

#3 - I strongly disagree with the Church lead Board’s decision to use tuition funds to sue current tuition paying parents who serve on the HPS Foundation’s Board. I urge the Church Board members to drop this lawsuit and seek the harmony with parents required by ACTABS to regain full accreditation.

Because of these concerns and others, I URGE the Church to participate in good faith in mediation and seek a mutually agreeable, long term, comprehensive solution that will allow both Church and School to work toward their respective goals going forward, avoid the cost and expense litigation would require of both sides, and enable HPS to continue providing an excellent faith based education to its 750 families on the trajectory established by the prior parent lead Boards and administration.