A legislative proposal in Texas seeks to shift the process for splitting school districts from a model dominated by school trustees to one requiring direct voter approval, aiming to enhance community involvement and transparency in decisions affecting local education.

The bill, debated on Tuesday in the Texas House committee, was introduced by Representative Charlie Geren, a Republican from Fort Worth, in response to a contentious episode in the Keller Independent School District (ISD). Earlier this year, Keller ISD trustees unexpectedly considered a plan to divide the district, which serves about 33,000 students, prompting significant community backlash. The proposal to split the district, justified by board members as a solution to fiscal challenges, catalysed student protests, lawsuits, and ultimately, the departure of the district superintendent. The board abandoned the plan in March, concluding it was not fiscally viable.

“When [the proposed split] came to light, the community blew up … It seems that this board believes that, by resolution, they can avoid an election. I don’t agree with that,” Rep. Geren stated during the committee hearing.

The controversy centred around a division of the district along Denton Highway, a move that residents feared would deepen educational inequities. The district’s top-rated schools are predominantly east of the highway, whereas schools west of the line serve a higher proportion of low-income families. Community members and advocacy groups criticised the trustees for lacking transparency and argued that residents should have a chance to vote on any proposal to divide the district. Supporters of the split, including some trustees, maintained that current Texas law allows school boards to unilaterally pass a resolution to divide districts, bypassing the need for an election.

In the wake of the controversy, officials in Fort Worth and Tarrant County sought legal opinions from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, querying whether trustees have the authority to create new districts without elections, citing the ambiguous wording of the state education code.

Keller parent Angela Hall described the legislative ambiguity as a “confusing and dangerous loophole” that permitted trustees to consider dividing the district without community consent.

Rep. Geren’s bill proposes to eliminate trustees’ ability to pass resolutions dividing districts without voter participation. Instead, the process would require that 20% of district voters petition the State Board of Education to initiate a split. Following this, a majority vote in each new portion of the district would be necessary to approve the division.

Proponents of the change argue that it will guarantee that community voices play a decisive role in district detachment questions. Keller ISD trustee Joni Shaw Smith, who opposed the initial split attempt, supports the bill, stating it would prevent school boards from being “hijacked by a small group pushing a private agenda.”

Conversely, Keller trustee John Birt, who supported the split, disputed this interpretation. “There was no backdoor collusion,” Birt said during the hearing, explaining that current law allows two pathways for detachment: a board resolution that avoids an election or a petition by 10% of voters that triggers a district-wide vote. Supervisor Chris Coker, another trustee who backed the split, added that the discussions were motivated by a belief that smaller, locally governed districts could better meet community needs.

Proponents of the split emphasised benefits such as smaller class sizes and more personalised instruction amid district budget constraints, which have contributed to overcrowding and teacher shortages. Birt voiced concern that the bill would reduce the influence of local citizens and their elected officials in managing education.

Under the proposed legislation, the State Board of Education would assume responsibility for allocating debt and property between the new districts and appoint trustees until the next election. Currently, the county commissioners’ court handles these tasks. Representative Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat from Austin, expressed apprehension about this shift, highlighting that school boards, responsible for bond obligations, should manage the financial responsibilities directly as their voters ultimately bear the costs.

The potential changes have attracted attention beyond Keller, with other Texas school districts facing financial difficulties and declining enrolment monitoring developments closely. Keller ISD anticipates a budget deficit of over $9 million for the next fiscal year.

Matthew Mucker, a Keller resident involved in litigation against the district over the split, voiced concerns to lawmakers that without legislation like Geren’s bill, other school boards might pursue divisions along socioeconomic or racial lines.

Representative John Bryant, a Democrat from Dallas, echoed these fears, asking, “Wouldn’t it be unwise of us to leave the door open to letting the school board come along and offload all of the students that have the greatest needs, and keep all the students that are most prosperous in one district?”

The bill remains under committee consideration with no immediate decision announced.

The Dallas Morning News is reporting on this development as part of its ongoing Education Lab initiative, which focuses on critical education issues affecting North Texas communities.

Source: Noah Wire Services