Win for some Clint ISD parents; board approves redistricting

A win for some parents in the Clint Independent School District who have argued some schools are getting more resources than others.

Electing board members “at-large” — or district wide– has led to the majority of trustees coming from Clint.

Critics said that has left Montana Vista and Horizon City residents without representation.

At a school board meeting Thursday, board members approved moving to a “single-member representation”– which means each area can elect its member to the board directly, while also keeping two at-large positions.

The vote was six-to-one. Clint ISD school board member Robert Lara was the only one to vote against the change.

Back in 2016, two families with children enrolled in Clint ISD filed a lawsuit accusing the district of spending more on Clint area students — giving them new materials, smaller class sizes and more opportunities.

While the Texas Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit — stating a lack of jurisdiction– feelings of unfair representation did not go away.

At a public hearing in early May, we found a grandfather and the school board president at odds on the issue.

“It’s a very big change and I don’t really see it as a positive change. I am very happy with the fact that I represent every student in our district, I am elected at large, I am accountable to every student, instead of just students in my district,” said board president James Pendell.

“My kids at the high school here and friends that I have in Montana Vista always seem to be lacking in financial support in financial support, in positive support,” said Emilio Gomez, a grandfather.

Despite his earlier concerns, the board president voted in favor of the change.

Voters will choose four positions in the November election and three in 2020.