Karen Clardy, David Tyson, Regina Harris and RISD Superintendent Jeannie Stone. Photo by Juan Lechuga.
After Richardson ISD voters go to the polls in May to elect two new trustees, the school board will be much different from the one which settled a voting rights lawsuit with former trustee David Tyson in 2019. Three of seven members of that all-white board lived in the Moss Haven area of Lake Highlands and three lived near Pearce High School. Beginning in May, at least one member will be African American, one will be Latino, and trustees will be spread across all corners of the district.
Tyson, the only minority trustee ever to serve in RISD before he filed suit in 2018, alleged that the board made decisions which boosted white students and led to underperforming schools in minority pockets of the district. After negotiation and arbitration, he settled with RISD and a 5-2 system was created with 5 single member districts and 2 at large trustees. African American Regina Harris was elected in 2019 to represent District 4, including historic Hamilton Park, and Latina Debbie Renteria drew no opponent in May’s race for District 3, the guitar-shaped zone which stretches from Coit & Spring Valley eastward beyond Plano Road. In District 6, African American Bridgett Hudson is facing off against Anglo Eric Eager for an at-large spot.
“I expected to win,” Tyson told me, “because attorneys at Brewer Storefront had a track record in Grand Prairie, Irving and Carrollton-Farmers Branch, and they wouldn’t have taken the case if they didn’t think they had a reasonable chance of winning. At the end of the day, all attorneys want to get paid, and clearly they got paid. We really wanted 7 single member districts, but when we looked at the time it would take to go to court, 5-2 was a good compromise.”
“We’re really doing this for the betterment of the kids and the staff. Everybody goes through stress and turmoil when things like this happen,” added Tyson, recognizing the effects of prolonged litigation and uncertainty.
Tyson said he has pushed the district to include minority views since his years on the board in 2004-10, but he was struck by a Facebook post a few years ago about RISD needing “diversity of thought.”
“My reply was that you’ll get diversity of thought if you get African Americans and Hispanics on the board. The response was, ‘we can’t find anybody to run.’ That’s the age-old story.”
Tyson said the emergence of 6 strong candidates in 3 races over the past year proves that minority candidates are willing to serve, but he added that the PTA and other civic organizations aren’t recruiting diversity in their membership and leadership. When they do, school board candidates will be plentiful – and naturally diverse. Single member districts also make campaigning more manageable, he said.
Implementation of 5-2 was a big factor in Renteria’s decision to run for RISD trustee. She wants to see proportional and equal representation of students, and 5-2 levels the playing field.
“RISD’s current student population is approximately 70% minority, with Latinos being the largest demographic group in the district. If elected the first Latina to serve on the board, I would most definitely bring a new perspective to the table with my background, education and experience as a Latina educator, parent and community advocate. However, my job as a trustee would be to represent all the voices of the students and parents that make up the district. My job would be to represent my community as a whole, no matter the ethnicity or language.”
Harris agreed with the need for equitable representation, especially given the importance of decisions made by RISD trustees and the impact they make on student success.
“RISD is a very diverse district. It is incredibly important that the board is diverse like the community that it supports so that a strong bond and relationship can be built with the community of parents and students that we support,” she said. “Awareness and authenticity is big for me. The ability to bring awareness to an issue or situation that an all-white board may not be aware of and to be completely authentic about it is very important to me and what I have brought and will continue to bring to the board.”
Both Harris and Renteria said veteran trustees have welcomed them to the process.
“I feel appreciated and respected,” said Harris. “My suggestions and statements are heard and taken seriously. Now that I have a ‘seat at the table’ I truly believe there is some ‘awareness.’”
“The current board members have been very receptive, supportive and very encouraging of my decision to run,” agreed Renteria. “If elected, I anticipate being welcomed by the other board members because of our mutual desire and commitment to serve, and because we are all strong advocates of a quality education for all students.”
In addition to bringing fresh perspectives, implementation of 5-2 will change RISD’s method of governance, Tyson said.
“It’s just like the city council. The council person represents the city of Dallas, but he or she represents their particular district, and what they should be doing is making sure there is parity. What we do know is there has not been parity. When you look at low-performing schools and how are kids are performing, it has not been equal. I’m expecting folks in District 4 and District 3 to look at those schools and make sure there is parity – that we don’t see schools with Ds and Fs but As and Bs. That’s the change.”
As for Tyson, he considers his work completed.
“When I saw that Debbie Renteria didn’t draw an opponent – and I don’t mean this to sound biblical – I said, ‘It is finished. My part is finished. We’ve achieved what we sought.’ What we wanted was opportunity for people of color to feel comfortable running. Winning is equally important, but they first have to feel comfortable enough to run. I have always said we needed to have black and brown representation on the board. I’ve put my reputation on the line and my business on the line. My job now is finished.”
RISD district map
