‘Treated Like a Criminal’: Parent Challenges Whitehouse ISD Trespass Order

Photo credit: Donovan Bridgeforth

WHITEHOUSE, Texas (TXAN 24) — A Whitehouse ISD parent says his fight with the district has only deepened, leaving both his family and livelihood impacted after a grievance he filed was rejected.

Marlondos Fields, the father previously barred from Mozelle Brown Elementary under a criminal trespass order, told TXAN 24 his grievance was dismissed on a technicality. While a school official later provided him with a new form, Fields fears the district will not accept it given his trespass status.

In the meantime, the consequences have rippled beyond paperwork. Fields says he lost his job at Jack Elementary after missing work to manage pickup and drop-off issues for his son, who has special needs. His son also lost the opportunity to transfer to Jack and instead remains within Whitehouse ISD.

Fields provided TXAN 24 with court documents showing that district officials were aware of his court-ordered visitation calendar. He says a school official even acknowledged the calendar on record — but the trespass order has disrupted his ability to carry out those responsibilities.

The new routine has created stress not only for Fields and his son but also for his young daughter. Before, she would walk her brother to school with their father, praying together with administrators and staff. Now, Fields must stop off campus, where his son is transferred into a district van and escorted onto school grounds.

“This has affected every part of our lives,” Fields said. “I just want to be a father to my children without all these barriers.”

The case continues to raise questions about how Whitehouse ISD handles parental grievances and the balance between school safety policies and parental rights.

Parental Rights vs. School Trespass Orders in Texas

What the law says:

• Under Texas law, parents have the right to access their children and be involved in their education, unless restricted by a court order.

• Districts, however, retain authority to restrict access to campuses under certain circumstances — including issuing criminal trespass warnings if they believe safety or order could be at risk.

How the two collide:

• A parent may still have full legal custody or visitation rights under a court order, but a trespass warning can limit how — or whether — they can enter school grounds.

• This often creates a gray area, where parental rights and district safety policies clash.

The grievance process:

• Parents who believe their rights are being violated can file grievances through their district’s administrative process.

• However, these complaints can be delayed or dismissed over paperwork issues or procedural disputes, leaving families without quick resolution.

Why it matters:

• Cases like Marlondos Fields’ highlight a broader debate in Texas: how to balance student safety with parental involvement, and whether districts should be more transparent and flexible when handling disputes involving court-ordered custody arrangements.

Stay tuned to TXAN 24 News as this is a developing story.