Congresswoman Says Closing North Forest ISD Raises Civil Right Issues

July 15, 2011

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee plans to fight the closing of the 7,600-student North Forest Independent District, which is being absorbed by the Houston Independent School District. The neighboring district has a long history of financial problems and poor academic scores, which the Texas Education Agency says has been the lowest in the state for three years.

Congresswoman Jackson-Lee wants the Department of Justice and the Department of Education to make a civil rights investigation.

"And I have to make a very blatant point, if you will, and the question of race is one that concerns us greatly. The district is 70 percent African-American, with Latino students and of course Anglo students. And we are very concerned."

Congresswoman Jackson-Lee says the North Forest Independent School District is historic.

"It may be the only African-American or multicultural district of this kind in the state, and it has value, it has history. And certainly, in this very wonderfully multicultural community, it is important for our children to have experiences that integrate them into the larger community but it is also important to precserve some cultural icons such as the North Forest Independent School District."

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The emergency meeting to discuss saving North Forest ISD is set for tomorrow afternoon at three, at Forest Brook Middle School on Tidwell.

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