KIRBYVILLE — An estimated 50-60 Kirbyville High School students marched about one mile to the Kirbyville CISD Administration Building to protest in support of Holli Farias, the principal of Kirbyville High School, before the students returned to the high school.

Farias was named Kirbyville High School principal in May 2018.

Superintendent Georgia Sayers spoke with KFDM/Fox 4 News about Farias.

“I can’t discuss personnel matters,” said Sayers. “I can tell you Miss Farias was not fired. The district did take some recent action related to Miss Farias, but she remains employed with Kirbyville CISD. I can’t tell you anything beyond that because it involves personnel. The students wanted their voices heard and I’ll meet with them later today.”

Police Chief Paul Brister and some of his officers went to the administration building to ensure students could protest safely without interfering with traffic.

“We’d heard she’d been reassigned to another position with the district and that students were planning to protest,” said Chief Brister. “50-60 kids walked about a mile from the high school to the administration building to protest. Some had megaphones and chanted, “Pray for Farias” and “We want Holli!”

Brister said he and his officers were out there to ensure students could protest safely and didn’t impede traffic. He says the protest began at about 9 a.m. and ended at about 9:50 a.m. The students walked back to the high school.

The Chief said his department recently ended an investigation into allegations of ‘over-disciplining’ of some student-athletes without any criminal charges filed. According to our media partner, KJAS, the investigation stemmed from allegations by some parents that coaches were over-disciplining student athletes in the high school weight room for not being able to lift enough weight or improperly lifting weight.

There’s no confirmation or indication by Superintendent Sayers of any link between the probe and the recent action taken related to Farias.

Written by KFDM STAFF