The Lewisville Independent School District is being sued in federal court and more lawsuits could be on the way for other school districts.
Frank Vaughan, who works with families in the district that struggle financially, filed the lawsuit because of concerns with the district’s election process and from witnessing inequalities, according to the Dallas Morning News. Vaughan's concern began with the failed bid of a Hispanic candidate.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, has allegations of harder opportunities for residents of color to get elected, which affects the education of minority and low-income children.
The Lewisville School Board has seven members, which all come from affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods where trustees are elected at-large instead of from single-member districts, according to the lawsuit. In May, three board seats will be up for election.
Lewisville’s student population is 41.3 percent white, 30 percent Hispanic, about 14 percent Asian students and 10.7 black students. Nearly a third of those students struggle financially.
71 percent of white students scored at least on grade level on standardized state tests, while only 43 percent Hispanic students did and 39 percent black students did. The highest performing schools are in white, more affluent neighborhoods where trustees live, according to the Dallas Morning News.
In 2018, a similar lawsuit was filed against the Richardson Independent School District, which ended in a settlement.
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RISD is delaying their board elections from May to November to work on developing a transition plan.
With the changing Texas demographic, there could be more lawsuits to come with similar allegations.
