Right-wing influence alters Texas school boards' policies

In North Texas, the Keller Independent School District (KISD) and the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) have taken very different paths in recent years. Both districts serve about 35,000 students each, but they respond differently to cultural debates over race and gender in education. Keller's school board has shifted to a conservative majority that focuses on limiting discussions of race and gender in classrooms. They recently blocked the purchase of books, including a biography of Black poet Amanda Gorman, after community complaints about the book’s content on race. This decision is surprising given that over half of Keller's students come from diverse backgrounds. In contrast, Richardson's school board has embraced a more inclusive approach. It allows parents to decide if they want to limit their children's access to certain books without banning them for all. This board, which has increased its diversity over the years, is seen as a model for inclusivity in education. The differences between these districts stem largely from how their school board members are elected. Keller uses an at-large voting system, where all voters can choose from all candidates, leading to less diversity on the board. In contrast, Richardson has switched to a single-member district system, which has allowed for greater representation of minority candidates. Recent political activities have intensified debates over these voting methods. In Keller, a conservative political action committee spent large sums to support candidates focusing on restricting discussions of race and racial topics in schools. Critics argue that this allows a minority of community voices to dominate decisions that affect all students. The Richardson district, after a legal challenge, changed its voting system to better reflect the community's diversity. This has allowed for candidates of color to win seats on the board and influence policy positively. As tensions over educational content continue, parents in Keller are pushing for changes to its voting structure, hoping to create a more representative system that reflects the diversity of students. They recently mobilized efforts to challenge the at-large voting system in court, following Richardson’s successful transformation. The Keller board recently proposed splitting the district, which raised concerns about access to resources for low-income and minority students. However, plans to divide the district were dropped due to financial issues. This situation has invigorated parents' efforts to reform the election system before it’s too late.