A judge this afternoon issued a temporary restraining order in the Dallas home-rule charter matter. Under the order, the Dallas school district cannot appoint four teachers to the home-rule charter commission -- at least for now.
A hearing has been set for 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The Dallas Alliance/AFT, the largest teacher group in Dallas, sued the school district this week, saying DISD broke the law when it named the four commission members. The teachers group says the teachers must be elected.
Last month, enough signatures were submitted during a petition drive to move forward with the home-rule proposal.
The Dallas school board has to appoint a 15-member commission of district residents. A majority of commission members must be parents of school-age children who attend public school, while 25 percent of the commission must be classroom teachers.
Supporters of home-rule hope the matter is placed on a November ballot.
DISD has set up a web page to explain home-rule.
KERA's Bill Zeeble explains the home-rule proposal:
It would be a new way to run the school district, allowing it to avoid certain state rules. The Texas legislature approved home-rule charter districts 19 years ago. But no Texas district has ever passed it, perhaps because it takes a lot of signatures -- 5 percent of registered voters -- to get it on the ballot. After that, a quarter of registered voters must turn out when it’s on the ballot. After the petition drive,DISD trustees would appoint a 15-member charter commission that would create a governance plan over which trustees would have no power or control. ... Trustees question those behind the effort. The push comes from a group called Support Our Public Schools, which says it wants to work with the board to improve education. ... The home-rule charter would then appear on November’s ballot. If at least a quarter of Dallas’ registered voters turn out and approve it, the district would follow those new rules. The process has led to loud rallies, such as one held a few weeks ago.
Catch up on KERA's coverage of the home-rule proposal:
- Supporters Of Home-Rule Proposal Explain Why They Want To Reform Dallas Schools
- Dallas Home-Rule School Opponents Fear They'll Lose Representation And Rights
- Bush Center President Margaret Spellings Discusses Home-Rule Law She Helped Write
- Dallas Mayor Rawlings Tells KERA: Toyota Chose Plano Over Dallas Because Of DISD
Read the judge's ruling
Temporary Restraining Order Issued Against Dallas School District In Home-Rule Charter Matter
