Fine Lines: School Boards Clash Over New District Maps

By Mark Walsh

Earlier this fall, the Dallas school board was preparing to vote on a remap of its electoral districts. Then the members got a lesson in how a complicated and often dreaded once-a-decade task can stir the passions of local citizens.

A Hispanic activist, upset that the board's proposed redistricting would not carve out a third majority-Hispanic district on the nine-member board, knocked over a lectern and denounced board members before being led away in handcuffs by school system police officers.

As a scuffle broke out, the board postponed its meeting, reconvening a few days later with spectators watching on closed-circuit television. In that Oct. 1 meeting, the board voted 5-4 to approve the disputed map that does not add the third Hispanic district. Hispanic activists in the 158,000-student district say the matter is likely to...