Dallas ISD Redistricting Process

This morning notice was posted in the Dallas Morning News regarding the meetings that will be happening on July 25 and 26, and August 1, 2, and 4, for input related to the Dallas ISD redistricting process. The link was given (http://www.dallasisd.org/redistricting/) for the DISD redistricting process information.  At that location you will find links to the four maps that are being presented as possible alternatives.   There are significant differences between the DISD redistricting process and the Dallas City Council redistricting process.

1) There is minimal, if any, opportunity for the public to actually work with the maps and submit alternatives in the DISD process.
2) Compactness is not given as a consideration, probably for many reasons not the least of which is that current DISD districts are not as gerrymandered as current Dallas City Council Districts.  Compactness measurements are not even mentioned on the DISD site.
3) Depending of which of the eventual 20+ maps being considered that the City Council Redistricting Commission chooses, it is very possible, based on the four maps being considered by DISD, that the Dallas City Council will now surpass DISD in having the least gerrymandered districts!
4) If Dallas City Council succeeds in securing the least gerrymandered districts, and DISD remains gerrymandered, it will be interesting to observe if voter turnout generally improves more in City Council elections than in DISD Board elections in the years to come.  (There may be people in Dallas dedicated to keeping voter turnout low and therefore keeping both these maps as gerrymandered as is possible. That is the sad battle that sometimes appears to be emerging.)