Attorney General Jim Mattox of Texas has urged a Houston judge to grant a hearing to a newspaper seeking access to school administrators’ academic transcripts, according to Ron Dusek, a spokesman for Mr. Mattox.
A Harris County judge ruled in August that the Houston Chronicle lacked legal standing to seek an order forcing the Houston Independent School District to turn over the records. The newspaper is appealing the ruling. (See Education Week, Sept. 7, 1988.)
Mr. Dusek said attorneys in Mr. Mattox’s office recently filed a number of motions in connection with the lawsuit.
“We’re not taking any side except to say the Chronicle should have its day in court,” said Mr. Dusek.
Mr. Mattox currently is being sued by teachers from the Klein Independent School District, a Houston suburb, who contend that their collegiate transcripts should not be considered public records, as the attorney general previously has ruled.
The Chronicle, which has reported that as many as 25 Houston administrators may have mail-order doctorates, also is fighting a judge’s order that its lawsuit be merged with the case pending against Mr. Mattox.
The Purdy, Mo., school district has appealed a federal judge’s August ruling striking down a 100-year-old ban on school dances.
U.S. District Judge Russell Clark had held that the ban was an unconstitutional violation of the separation of church and state. (See Education Week, Sept. 7, 1988.)
Students are still hoping to celebrate the end of the ban with a homecoming dance on Dec. 10.