In a surprise, the superintendent said she would resign if trustees moved forward with the plan Thursday night.

Many described the split as a move to cut out students who “live on the wrong side of the tracks,” referring to the rail line along Denton Highway that serves as the border between Keller and Fort Worth, saying the board intended to racially segregate schools in the district. They also said they were “blindsided” by how the idea was made public.

During that special meeting the Keller ISD board of trustees did not take action on a proposal that would create a new school district by splitting the existing one.