Mineola school board fielded two complaints from parents Monday.

Both spoke during the public comment part of the meeting, which does not allow for discussion by the board.

Hannah Arney detailed a situation with a student showing a steer at the Houston Livestock Show who was not accompanied by a school staff member.

Arney questioned what if something had happened to the student and no school personnel were around to handle the situation.

She and her husband, who were traveling with their child, transported the student and steer but did not think they should have been solely responsible.

“I feel like the ag department has become divided,” she said, and does not have good leadership.

She acknowledged that ag teachers wear many hats and are busy. But she has stopped advising other parents to contact the ag teachers about matters when they are not getting help or answers.

B.J. Threlkeld addressed the board about a situation involving his child who he said has been bullied and was found with a knife at school.

He said the incident was classified as horse play, but that’s not what it was.

Threlkeld said he has supported the school in various ways and asked nothing in return. But he did not feel this situation was handled fairly.

He noted a school employee who spread information that there had been a stabbing, when that was not the case.

He also offered an apology to Mineola ISD Police Chief Cody Castleberry for his behavior on the day of the incident. ”I was an irritated parent,” he said.

Threlkeld said his children had never been in trouble at school until this year.