We Are One: Keller Students Protest Proposal to Split School District
Keller high school students said it was their turn to be heard as they walked out of classrooms Friday morning to protest a proposal to split their district in two.
Background
The district of about 33,000 students is considering a plan to divide the schools along Denton Highway, which would create two separate districts. Opponents worry the proposed split would exacerbate inequities, with schools on the east side of the highway serving a higher percentage of low-income families.
Student Protest
At 9:40 a.m., as teachers readied to take attendance, roughly 200 students from all five high schools in the district – Timber Creek, Fossil Ridge, Keller, Central, and the Keller Collegiate Academy – left their campuses. The students, wearing gold ribbons, bows, and t-shirts, hoisted posters that read "We are one" and "Tracks won’t divide us."
"We’re willing to risk our skin, to walk out of our classes, to show solidarity against this split," said Heath Shiflett, a sophomore at Keller High School. "It does not get any more clear than that."
Concerns
Students who attend schools on the west side of the highway expressed concerns about losing access to the Keller Center for Advanced Learning, which offers career and technical classes. Erich Haring, a sophomore at Timber Creek, takes welding classes at the center and wants to get his certification and start working after graduation. He worries that a split would dash his future plans.
Maddie Ramsey, a senior at Fossil Ridge, echoed those concerns. "We would have nothing," she said. "It is insane, the opportunities we have, and they’re trying to rip that from us."
Walkout and Demands
The walkout occurred just before rollcall because the state funds schools based on daily attendance. Students said they wanted to get officials’ attention and show a united front against the proposal.
"We’re trying to get them in the pocketbook a little too," Shiflett said.
Background on the Proposal
The plan to split the district has been met with criticism from community members, who have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and the impact on property values, school funding, building usage, feeder patterns, and more. Supporters of the split argue that it would bring about smaller class sizes and more personalized attention for students, but opponents believe the district’s budget challenges have led to overcrowded classes and teacher shortages.
Conclusion
Keller high school students made their voices heard by walking out of classrooms to protest the proposal to split their school district in two. With concerns about the impact on equity, access to resources, and the future of their education, students are demanding that officials put the proposal to a community vote.
FAQs
Q: Why are students protesting the proposal to split the district?
A: Students are protesting the proposal because they believe it would lead to inequities, with schools on the east side serving a higher percentage of low-income families, and they want to keep the district unified.
Q: What are the concerns about the impact on resources?
A: Students are concerned that the split would mean losing access to resources such as the Keller Center for Advanced Learning, which offers career and technical classes, and would lead to a lack of opportunities for students on the west side.
Q: What do supporters of the split say about the proposal?
A: Supporters of the split argue that it would bring about smaller class sizes and more personalized attention for students, but opponents believe the district’s budget challenges have led to overcrowded classes and teacher shortages.
Q: How did the walkout affect the community?
A: The walkout had a significant impact on the community, with residents driving by the protest site and honking in support, and students from other schools joining in.
