by WES FERGUSON
The boundaries of Hays CISD’s trustee districts are being redrawn this summer in a process that could result in a few more minority faces on the school board.
About 61 percent of the district’s students are Hispanic, whereas five of the seven trustees are Anglo.
“I think it’s important to have a school board that represents the population of the community,” said Vice President Willie Tenorio, who is the lone Hispanic member of the board. “I’m hoping that perhaps the redistricting process will address some of those concerns.”
“We have a minority community that definitely has its own challenges,” he continued, “and I think we can provide a better perspective on those needs.”
For example, Tenorio said, minority families in Hays CISD have traditionally had lower incomes than white families, and their children might not have benefitted from as many enrichment opportunities. Some Hispanic students also must overcome the language barrier between Spanish and English.
“I think we have a good understanding for that and an empathy for that, so we want to address that through the policies we make,” Tenorio said.
He noted also that while board members represent specific trustee districts, they are responsible for every student in Hays CISD, regardless of where they live.
Redrawing the district boundaries is a months-long process that has just begun. Each school board member has appointed a citizen to a special redistricting committee, and Hays CISD has hired a law firm to create drafts of the new boundaries.
The committee will review those drafts to decide whether they represent the Hays CISD population. The committee will then make a recommendation to the school board, and the board will vote on the new boundaries in the fall, Tenorio said.
Before taking effect, the new boundaries must be cleared by the Department of Justice, he added.
