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Schools at odds in racial division - Hearne ISD sues nearby Mumford for "white flight"
Houston Chronicle ^ | August 3, 2003 | JAMES KIMBERLY

Posted on 08/03/2003 12:44:26 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

MUMFORD -- A little more than a decade ago, the tiny school district in this community of cotton fields and drying feed corn was a candidate for extinction: just 80 students, kindergarten through eighth grade, attending class in a 1925 schoolhouse.

Today, it is the envy of Robertson County: three new campuses stocked with computer labs for all students, televisions and VCRs in every classroom, and consistently good scores on state standardized tests.

The school district has made the most of school transfer laws. Eighty percent of its student body -- which is now at 444 and includes a high school -- came from neighboring districts.

The vast majority transferred from the nearby Hearne Independent School District and officials there believe something sinister is luring families from Hearne.

In a recently filed federal lawsuit, Hearne officials complain that white families are fleeing the predominately black Hearne school district, depriving Hearne of much-needed state aid and turning back the clock to a time in Texas when the federal courts had to order public schools to integrate.

"This kind of white flight is just devastating to a school district like Hearne," said attorney Donald Henslee.

The lawsuit, filed July 25 in U.S. District Court in Tyler, accuses Mumford ISD of violating the federal desegregation order that has governed Texas schools since 1971.

The dispute threatens to devastate rural school districts and become another fissure in a community that has struggled with race relations. It has the potential to change the way Texas public school enrollments are managed.

For an agricultural county of just 16,000 people, Robertson has had more than its share of public scandals. Many have involved allegations of racism.

Most recently, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit against the county district attorney and a local drug task force, accusing them of unjustly targeting blacks in a recent drug sting. The lawsuit is pending.

"There's a great deal of racial tension in the community of Hearne," said resident Jerry Henry, who is white.

The current dispute between the Mumford and Hearne school districts could heighten that tension.

Although two-thirds of Robertson County is white, Hearne, its largest community, and the Hearne Independent School District are predominately black.

Although students of all races and ethnicities have transferred from Hearne to Mumford, it is the flight of the white students that has raised the most ire.

Hearne school board members have complained that Mumford is stealing its most academically talented students, hurting Hearne's performance on state tests. More importantly, the district loses approximately $5,500 in state aid for every student that leaves, more if the student can be categorized as one deserving additional state aid such as special education.

In 10 years, Hearne has lost hundreds of students to Mumford, many of them white. In 1993, blacks made up 47 percent of the Hearne student body, whites 28 percent and Hispanics 26 percent. In 2002, just 12 percent of the students in Hearne schools were white, 58 percent were black and 30 percent were Hispanic.

During the same period, the racial makeup of the Mumford school district went from majority Hispanic to majority white.

Hearne's attorney said this is not by accident. Henslee accuses Mumford of actively soliciting transfers.

What's more, Henslee said, the practice violates the federal desegregation order that governs Texas. While the order allows students to transfer from one school district to another as long as the receiving school district can accommodate them, it expressly prohibits transfers that will alter the racial makeup of either school district by more than 1 percent.

Even Mumford's staunchest supporters agree the numbers can appear troubling.

"It does fit the symptoms (of white flight), I guess," said Henry, who sent two of his three children to Mumford schools while a member of the Hearne school board.

But supporters insist there is more to the story than just counts of race and ethnicity

"From the academic part of it, Mumford does a whole lot better than Hearne does," said Dennis Randle, a black man from Hearne who sends two children to Mumford schools and one to Hearne High School.

The accusations of racism sting, said Mumford Superintendent Pete Bienski Jr.

Mumford's growth has never been about race or money, but about educating children, he said. To prove it, Bienski has his own statistics.

Of the 342 students who transferred to Mumford last year, 268 came from Hearne. Of the Hearne transfers, 156 were black or Hispanic.

"This is not a white school. We take all kids," Bienski said. "People come to Mumford because they know they are getting a better education. We don't recruit kids. Parents do our recruiting for us by word of mouth."

Bienski doesn't deny that Mumford relies on the state aid it receives for the transfers, but he insists that has not been the secret to the school district's recent success. Mumford has been successful, Bienski says, because it does more with less.

There is some evidence of that.

Bienski serves not only as the school district superintendent, but also as the principal of all three campuses. When the district began its aggressive building campaign in 1997, Bienski served as the general contractor, saving the district millions of dollars. The district owns all three campuses outright.

The school district stocked its computer labs by taking advantage of grant programs. When it launched its high school a few years ago, it focused on academics and avoided costly athletic programs such as football.

There are many school districts that shun transfer students because the $5,500 state aid payment cannot cover the cost of an education, Bienski points out. And it is Hearne, not Mumford, that receives the property taxes paid by the transfer families.

"All parents -- regardless of race, whether it is Hispanic, black or white -- they want their kids to have the very best education," Bienski said. "The only thing we're guilty of in Mumford is educating children."

The Hearne school district has requested specific remedies in its lawsuit.

It wants the federal court to order Hearne students back to Hearne schools and to order Mumford to stop accepting transfers. It also asks the court to consolidate the Mumford school district with Hearne.

If Hearne is successful, the ruling would be devastating, not just to Mumford, but to many rural school districts in Texas, Bienski said. Although few go as far as Mumford, 262 Texas school districts accept transfer students.

Many are small and rural and would be bankrupt without them, Bienski said.

"If we were not able to take any transfers, then Mumford would not be able to exist, but Mumford would not be the only school district that would not be able to exist. There would be a lot of schools affected by that," he said.

A Mumford victory also would carry statewide ramifications.

Mumford's position is that the 33-year-old federal desegregation order is outdated and should be modified or removed. Bienski points out the order conflicts with the federal law known as No Child Left Behind, passed by Congress two years ago.

In addition to implementing nationwide a system of standardized tests similar to what already exists in Texas, the law also gives parents the right to transfer their children from a low-performing school district to a better neighboring district.

"This lawsuit will be a landmark case," Bienski predicted.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: education; oldconner
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
When I was in junior high, I had a science teacher who was the worst. He could not explain a concept or a project clearly. It is the only class in which I can remember feeling regularly confused. This teacher was also incapabale of maintaining good order and proper respect in his classroom. Guess what? 20 years later, he was the superintendent of Hearne ISD schools. He held the position for a good number of years. I cannot imagine a school board hiring the man. From what I heard and read, the district suffered (apparently willingly) under his guidance.

Also, I currently teach (in a much larger town) with a teacher who formerly taught in Hearne ISD. She taught ESL (no specialization in that area), Spanish (no specialization in that area) and about 4 other subjects, including industrial technology and various computer courses. Does this help explain why people are taking their children out of Hearne schools? [In our district, she's currently teaching computer classes and industrial tech.]

41 posted on 08/03/2003 6:53:13 AM PDT by Clara Lou
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
There is quite a bit that can be said about this article, but I'll just hit a few high points:

"This kind of white flight is just devastating to a school district like Hearne," said attorney Donald Henslee."

White people can't win for losing. If there are "too many" of us somewhere (like NASCAR, for instance), then the libs have a fit and demand that minorities be brought in for "diversity". If too many of us leave from somewhere...then that is a problem too....necessitating a lawsuit to drag us back. Has anyone ever noticed that the libs spend a heck of a lot of time trying to manipulate and control the white middle class?

"Although students of all races and ethnicities have transferred from Hearne to Mumford, it is the flight of the white students that has raised the most ire."

Why should this be? Isn't this racist itself? Why should the libs be any more concerned about the transfer of whites than blacks or hispanics?

"More importantly, the district loses approximately $5,500 in state aid for every student that leaves"

Well...it sounds like this may be the crux of the matter. The lousy school is PO'ed that the peasants are fleeing the fields for greener pastures. God forbid they'd actually attempt to attract more students back by improving the quality of the education they provide. They should just do what the E German commies did when confronted with the same problem...build a wall and shoot anyone who tries to escape. Its brutal, but more honest.

One final observation: Have you ever noticed that despite all of the complaining that blacks do about whites and about america....very few of them have ever left to live somewhere else? Very few have ever picked up and gone somewhere where they won't have to be around evil white people so much. They seem to get very nervous when there aren't many of us around. I wonder why that is?

42 posted on 08/03/2003 7:00:34 AM PDT by quebecois
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To: Clara Lou
Parents have every right to educate their children anywhere they want for any reason they have.

The liberals should realize by now that parents (both black and white) want a decent education for their children and don't care where they get it. They shouldn't assume that parents have the same social agenda as they do.
43 posted on 08/03/2003 8:06:45 AM PDT by ladylib
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To: mathluv
I don't know how many races there are (different numbers have been stated at different times) and don't care. Most people are at least somewhat homogenized by now anyway. The whole thing should be irrelevant but, the race pimps of various persuasions and their government partners-in-crime will never let it die as long as there's a dollar or advantage in perpetuating the needless mess. As far as I'm concerned, no intelligent, honest person would have much interest in the subject (with the exception of anthropologists and certain medical interests). There's no legitimate government interest. In the sense I'm talking about it here, it's absurd.

But, now we're getting an absurdity on top of an absurdity; i.e., 'Hispanic' is becoming a 'race' in the PC lexicon. This is doubly absurd because virtually every so-called 'race' I've ever heard of is included under the term 'Hispanic'. This is 'Alice-In-Wonderland' stuff. It would be humorous were it not so stupid.

And now, my real reason for all this...the rest of the story...if you can't beat 'em, join 'em...get in the game.

Low self-esteem got you down? Sick of not being an 'official' racial minority? Join the 'Buckwheats Gringos' race today. You'll definitely be in the minority then. For only $9.95 I'll send you one 'Buckwheats Gringos Consular Card', one 'Buckwheats Gringos Drivers License' (include your state of residence and a teeny little photo that readily accepts glue), one 'Buckwheats Gringos Universal Voter Card', and one 'Official Buckwheats Gringos Racial Identity Card' (which says 'Good For Nothing' in big faux-gold letters with chain-link edging, yet may get you admitted to many colleges). No one denied. Feel proud again. Don't delay!
44 posted on 08/03/2003 8:49:00 AM PDT by Buckwheats
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Hearne school board members have complained that Mumford is stealing its most academically talented students, hurting Hearne's performance on state tests. >>>>>>>

oh since those transferring are mostly white what the school board is saying is the black students aren't academically talented and they really need the other races to keep their scores up. (isn't that racist?)
45 posted on 08/03/2003 9:05:02 AM PDT by tickles
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Read and comment on the contents - please.

White students cannot get a decent education in a majority black classroom (and for that matter, neither can black students). In general, black classrooms are too disruptive, intimidating and often violent. Therefore, whites (and some blacks) flee these schools for the sake of their children.

It is nothing new. This has been going on for at least the last thirty years.

There, I've said it.

46 posted on 08/03/2003 9:19:02 AM PDT by Drew68
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To: quebecois
Well...it sounds like this may be the crux of the matter. The lousy school is PO'ed that the peasants are fleeing the fields for greener pastures. God forbid they'd actually attempt to attract more students back by improving the quality of the education they provide. They should just do what the E German commies did when confronted with the same problem...build a wall and shoot anyone who tries to escape. Its brutal, but more honest.

You've described public education in American today.

47 posted on 08/03/2003 1:41:59 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin; Clara Lou
Thanks for the insights and comments.
48 posted on 08/03/2003 1:42:56 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: tickles
They're saying it but it really is all about the money.
49 posted on 08/03/2003 1:44:47 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Drew68
You've described reality created by lousy education. Those remaining in the worst of the worst more than likely are offspring of students who were "educated" by the same system. Many see that it for the dead end it is for their children, too many don't care. But those who do want out, they're standing in line for vouchers and fighting LIBERALS who are standing in their way.
50 posted on 08/03/2003 1:49:24 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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Comment #51 Removed by Moderator

To: SickOfItAll
The drumbeat is getting louder. More mothers are staying home. More parents are teaching at home or supporting private schools. More blacks are demanding vouchers to get away from rotten schools. More hispanics are demanding English only.
52 posted on 08/03/2003 2:07:16 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Clara Lou
Also, I currently teach (in a much larger town) with a teacher who formerly taught in Hearne ISD. She taught ESL (no specialization in that area), Spanish (no specialization in that area) and about 4 other subjects, including industrial technology and various computer courses. Does this help explain why people are taking their children out of Hearne schools? [In our district, she's currently teaching computer classes and industrial tech.]

I understand...they're the ones who keep their jobs. If a teacher pushes the level and brings it up (s)he gets to move. It's sad, but true and no one will defend you. This is a barometer of the downfall of the nation. You have mail.

53 posted on 08/03/2003 2:10:38 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (De tal palo, tal astilla.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
What's more, Henslee said, the practice violates the federal desegregation order that governs Texas. While the order allows students to transfer from one school district to another as long as the receiving school district can accommodate them, it expressly prohibits transfers that will alter the racial makeup of either school district by more than 1 percent.

Gosh, that wouldn't have been a ruling by a liberal activist judge, would it?

54 posted on 08/03/2003 3:06:20 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
St. Petersburg is grappling with this formula too. It is running into trouble across the country and it's coming from parents of all shades.
55 posted on 08/04/2003 12:37:23 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: sgtbono2002

I went to Hearne High School and graduated from there. I now have two brothers that attend Mumford. Yes I am white, but I had no problem attending a predominatly black school. The problem I have with Hearne Schools now is the lack of educationl excellence. Students have every right to choose where they want to go to school if the school they go to is not fulfilling its academic responsiblilites. Hearne I'm sorry to say is not doing that at all.


56 posted on 09/08/2004 1:39:11 AM PDT by TexasAggie2006
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To: All
The latest:

Two school districts embroiled in racial tug of war (this one has it all: choice, naacp, money tug)***MUMFORD - About 70 white students were turned away from their schools here for two days this week as their parents, school administrators and civil rights attorneys fought the latest round in a racially charged legal battle between two small-town Central Texas school districts.

A ruling Friday will allow the students, who had transferred from lower-performing schools in nearby Hearne, to return to their classrooms in Mumford on Monday.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay to allow the transfer students to remain until a hearing in early October. Students, some of whom have attended the 460- student Mumford district since kindergarten, were banned earlier this week, after U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice ruled that their transfers violated federal desegregation laws by significantly altering the racial makeup of the school districts.

......"This is an education flee. They're running to get an education. It's not about race or color," said Tim Johnson, a 1985 graduate of Hearne High, whose 13-year-old son attends Mumford. "I feel sorry for the kids that are (at Hearne) and cannot get out and go somewhere else."

....."It was awful," said Reed, adding that teachers were starting to organize to home-school children who didn't want to attend Hearne schools.......***

57 posted on 08/13/2005 12:56:19 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: sgtbono2002

Our school district closed my kids' school in June. Out of 31 elementary schools to choose from (and 8 on the California list of failing schools that could be taken over by the state), the district chose our school. It had the 6th highest test scores in the district and was a National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished school.

The district made a list of 8 potential schools to close. None of the schools in the primarily hispanic part of town where enrollment is dropping were on the list.


Out of the 8 schools, they didn't want to close a magnet school that costs twice as much to operate and has lower test scores because they wanted to give the lower income children more choice in schooling.


58 posted on 08/15/2005 2:15:12 AM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
My children were 2 of the 70 students who were allowed to return to school in Mumford today. The whole issue here is about money. Hearne doesn't care about educating my children. We chose Mumford over 6 years ago for our children because of the education they provided. Because they are white they were going to be forced into a school that barely passes on its TAKS tests. I will home school first.
59 posted on 08/15/2005 7:47:50 PM PDT by Hearne1995
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To: Hearne1995
I find this a fascinating case Hearne1995. Keep us up to date on what's happening.

Each case like this need exposer. Other districts will follow suit.

I hope this goes to the Supreme Court.

It would be grand if it took us further down the road to having taxed dollars follow the student, even to their homeschool.
60 posted on 08/16/2005 12:59:55 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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