Democracy

Democracy, or at least the Texan flavor of it, was in full effect last night as I attended a school board meeting regarding the rezoning of our neighborhood. I entered by my lonesome and took a seat, but saw many fill in, so much so that the school board members brought out extra chairs as it soon became standing room only. Residents from my neighborhood showed up in the dozens to voice their concerns about their kids possibly going to a less than reputable high school, and there was another community facing the same issue.

 What got me is that if you wanted to speak, you were required to show up at 5:30, fill out a speaker's card, hang around for an hour while the board meets in private, then have your chance to voice your concerns. I missed my chance to express my views through interpretive dance, but alas there were many others willing to step up to the plate for the community. Passion was abound as many showed respect to the board, but made their pleas to have their children go to an exemplary high school.

After hearing a lot of Indian men speak in broken accents, some middle school kids took to the mic and did the needful. Upset that their middle schools are closely integrated with the high school, they were not pleased to be told they'd be going somewhere else. One kid even noted to the board that at the beginning of the meeting we made the pledge of allegiance, but if his choice was taken away, the board was taken away our liberties. A round of applause ensued.

After the board heard all of what they allotted to hear, they later discussed the issue with a planner, and it was apparent that even if our community wins this round, this issue may come up again next year, and the next, and the next. It was apparent, to me at least, that this was an issue that wasn't worth fighting for, as the only choice I could make was move my family into a better area that's not threatened with zoning issues.

It sucks as a big part of the reason we moved into Castle Hills North was because of the schools, but now that it's apparent the school district could give two shits about the premiums we pay to them through our taxes and educational fund, it's best to cut our losses and move on. There are better home values offered in North Texas.