An independent investigation has found that Mansfield ISD Board President Dr. Jandel Crutchfield is a legal resident of the district and remains eligible to serve on the Board of Trustees, the board announced Thursday — resolving allegations that had been referred to outside legal counsel earlier this month.

In an update posted to the district’s newsroom, trustees said district counsel Leasor Crass, P.C. “engaged an independent investigator to completely and thoroughly examine whether Dr. Jandel Crutchfield is a legal resident of Mansfield ISD and therefore eligible to serve on the Board of Trustees.”

“After reviewing utility bills, mortgage statements, bank statements, other records, and personal interviews, the findings are conclusive that Dr. Jandel Crutchfield is a resident of Mansfield ISD and has been since at least 2018,” the statement said. “She is therefore legally eligible to serve on the Board of Trustees.”

Background

The finding closes out a residency inquiry the board disclosed on June 3, when trustees said they had “recently received information alleging that Board President Dr. Jandel Crutchfield may not reside within Mansfield ISD boundaries, which is a requirement for service on the board.” The board referred the matter to district counsel and said an independent legal review was underway, declining to comment further until it concluded.

Residency carries real consequences for a school board seat. Under Texas Education Code § 11.052, a trustee must live in the district, and the statute provides that “a trustee vacates the office if the trustee … ceases to reside in the district the trustee represents.” Thursday’s conclusion that Crutchfield has lived within Mansfield ISD since at least 2018 removes that question from her Place 2 seat, which she won in the May 2024 election for a term running through 2027.

What the board said

The Board of Trustees thanked residents for their patience during the review. “The Board of Trustees appreciates the community’s patience throughout this process,” the statement said. “The board remains committed to following appropriate procedures, addressing concerns thoroughly, and focusing on the work of serving Mansfield ISD students, staff, and families.”

The district did not identify who raised the original allegations.

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