RICHARDSON ISD RECKONS WITH ITS ALL-WHITE SCHOOL BOARD

District 1 KEY District 2 District 3

District 4

District 5

Data courtesy of RISD

District 1

KEY District 2 District 3

District 4

District 5

RICHARDSON ISD RECENTLY SETTLED the lawsuits that former board member David Tyson Jr. filed in 2018. Here’s what you need to know.

What caused the lawsuits?

Former trustee David Tyson Jr. filed two lawsuits against the seven-member school board last year.

One alleges that the board’s at-large voting system creates an all-white school board. In an at-large system, board members can live anywhere within the district’s boundaries, and they all represent the entire district. In Lake Highlands, trustees Justin Bono, Jean Bono and Karen Clardy live within a mile of each other near Moss Haven Elementary, for example.

Story by ELISSA CHUDWIN Illustration by ASHLEY DRAKE

Tyson, the only minority to ever serve as a trustee, argues that the voting system hinders minorities from serving on the board. The lawsuit states that the board focuses its attention on students living in affluent neighborhoods, which has led to an “egregious achievement gap.”

In other words: The lawsuit claims that the board’s election system perpetuates homogeneity. The board’s resulting lack of diversity benefitted white, affluent students to the detriment of low-income, minority students.

Tyson filed a second lawsuit accusing trustees of meeting secretly, in violation of Texas open meetings law. His evidence: more than 500 unanimous votes over the past seven years that he alleged were “choreographed behind the scenes.”

Who is the lawyer that represented David Tyson?

Brewer Storefront, the pro bono arm of Dallas-based Brewer Attorneys & Counselors, filed both lawsuits. Attorney Bill Brewer previously filed similar suits in Irving ISD, Grand Prairie ISD and Carrollton-Farmers

Marketplace

Branch ISD. In February, he filed a voting-rights lawsuit against Lewisville ISD. Brewer has yet to lose.

What was the outcome of the lawsuits against RISD?

The school board and Tyson avoided a trial and agreed to a settlement in January. The board will implement a 5-2 system, with five single-member districts and two at-large seats.

What this means: Five trustees will represent districts within RISD’s boundaries. Two seats will remain atlarge. Lines already have been drawn for the five single-member districts, and two of them encompass majorityminority neighborhoods.

Brewer Storefront received $385,000 as part of the settlement. That money benefits the nonprofit and is used for initiatives such as its Future Leaders Program, which provides Dallas ISD students with academic resources and leadership training.

“In total, including the plaintiff’s fees, we’re paying north of half a million dollars to date,” board president Justin Bono said. “But if we were taking this to trial, we would have spent multiples of that, just on our side.”

What is changing and when?

How we elect trustees and who represents us will change this year. Instead of choosing all seven seats, voters will cast ballots for a trustee to represent their district and also for the two at-large seats.

Here’s what we know: A U.S. district court approved RISD’s request to move the upcoming May election to November 2019. The transition plan will be finalized Aug. 7.

Karen Clardy, Eron Linn and Katie Patterson’s two-year terms expire this May. Clardy and Linn have said they will seek re-election. Patterson has said she will not. Voters will cast ballots for three seats during the election.

We don’t know which trustees will hold single-member seats or who will serve at-large, as of press time. It’s likely that Patterson’s seat will become District 4, a majority-minority district that includes Hamilton Park, although nothing is finalized.

Does this mean that our school’s attendance boundaries will change?

The settlement has no impact on attendance boundaries whatsoever. It simply alters the voting process.

Lake Highlands Acupuncture

Bryan Ellett, L.Ac.

The World Health Organization recommends acupuncture for: chronic pain, high blood pressure, depression/anxiety, digestive problems (IBS, heartburn), common cold, allergies and more! Come see why! Now accepting insurance!

10252 E. Northwest Highway 214.267.8636 lakehighlandsacupuncture.com

Where is Hamilton Park, and why is it important?

Hamilton Park is a neighborhood northeast of Lake Highlands. Developed as an African-American suburb in 1954, this historic community still has close-knit residents dedicated to preserving its legacy. Its high school closed during desegregation in the 1970s, and the building was converted into Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet. Now students are zoned to three high schools: Berkner, Richardson and Lake Highlands. For the first time in 65 years, Hamilton Park will be represented at the RISD board table. “We’ve had ups and we’ve had downs … This is the best ‘up’ that I could ever see, and I’m so glad to be a part of it,” Hamilton Park civic leader Thomas Jefferson said during January’s community meeting.

Need to know: Several Hamilton Park residents, including PTA council president Regina Harris, have expressed interest in serving on the board

What are some potential pitfalls of the proposed map, according to neighbors?

The board had to ensure each district contained equal populations and that two of the districts’ residents were predominately minorities. Because of this, some elementary schools’ attendance zones don’t match up with the districts. Seventeen elementary schools will have more than one trustee representing them. Some neighbors expressed concern those trustees will have competing interests and create conflict among board members.