Delmar Independent School District

Delmar Independent School District (DISD) was a public school district based in Lamar and Delta counties in North Texas established in 1941. It consolidated with the West Lamar Independent School District into the Delmar-West Lamar CISD.

History

Formation

Delmar ISD was created by the 1941 consolidation of the Howland Independent School District and Midway District No.25 and later the Lake Creek School District No.25 of Delta County.

In 1948, a $115,000 public bond election was a source of controversy after it was alleged that it was not publicized adequately.

The name Delmar is a portmanteau of Delta and Lamar, for the two counties it was based in.

It later annexed surrounding Lamar County districts in 1948, bringing it to an area of 103 miles squared with an enrollment of 750 as of the fall of 1952.

As of 1952, it ran an elementary school and planned on building a colored school south of Paris on the Texas State Highway 24 11 miles South of Paris, Texas proper, now known as the Old Delmar School.

Its other colored school was a 12-grade school.

In 1974, it saw a rise in enrollment and began planning for new construction, as well as offering new courses, including French and Spanish with an active enrollment of 395. It served 133 miles squared within Lamar and Delta counties by this time and employed 35 staff.

First proposed consolidation

In February 1976, consolidation with Paris ISD was considered by the school board due to popular demand, as facilities needed upgrading though the Texas Education Agency had not enforced these since 1973. A meeting of around 100 and continued debate resulted in three factions: those who sought to consolidate with Paris, those who instead favored consolidation with Roxton and West Lamar, and those who wanted to retain the district by passing a bond issue. The Delmar school board voted 3–2 to begin consolidation talks with Paris after a petition signed by 159 people asking the board to consider consolidation.

Those against consolidation, represented by two board members and the superintendent, argued that passing a $175,000 bond issue would save tax dollars and would fulfill what was necessary, as the district had the lowest tax rate in the area, and it was speculated consolidating with Paris's more industrialized and developed boundaries would increase the tax burden of residents of the existing Delmar ISD and would add an additional tax for the upkeep of Paris Junior College.

The district's relatively low-value agricultural economy was propelled only by a pipeline and Texas Power and Light equipment, giving it a $5 million land evaluation as opposed to Paris's land evaluation of $61.8 million. Those against consolidation claimed more development was coming Delmar's way in the next few years.

Those who favored consolidation thought it would be better for current Delmar students to go with bigger schools with more adequate facilities and courses, as many complained Lamar lacked sufficient advanced-level courses.

Expelling lawsuit

In 1976, an 18-year-old Lamar County man filed a federal lawsuit with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Delmar ISD, its board, and its superintendent. The suit alleged he was expelled from the school due to having signed the petition requesting annexation to Paris ISD is considered. He was arrested on orders of the superintendent for trespassing, two days after being expelled. Neither the man or his attorney were told a reason for his expelling. In September 1976, the lawsuit was delayed until March and a motion to dismiss was swiftly denied, though it was agreed that the names of the school board members who left the school board could not be sued. It was planned William Wayne Justice would preside over the case. By this point, the school board officials had alleged the reason for the expelling of the 18-year-old was possession of marijuana. In March 1977, it was stated that the case would be heard alongside a similar case from North Lamar ISD. Justice Justice ruled in favor of the Delmar ISD and the named defendants, though that the man be reinstated as a student and that the suspension be taken off his record.

Lake Creek CCDD and final years

On August 23 of 1976, a meeting of people who favored Delmar independence were to gather. This was after a meeting of 40 Lake Creek residents who called themselves Concerned Citizens of Delmar District appeared August 17 to request the school board let them be annexed into Cooper ISD. CCDD representatives later stated they wished for the school district to remain intact and complained their motives had been misreported by The Paris News, but most Lake Creekers were still for de-annexation.

A separate class-action suit was filed against Delmar ISD seeking an injunction over the purchase of time warrants. A restraining order was later signed. One of the board members resigned in November 1976 after being the only dissenting member, being against the purchase of the warrants. He was also involved in the expelling lawsuit.

In December 1976, CCDD again requested they be able to be annexed into Cooper ISD. This was postponed again by the Delmar board. The board considered the issue on December 15, 1976, and denied Lake Creek de-annexation. An appeal to the TEA was prepared in late 1976 and early 1977 after the unanimous decision to deny Lake Creek joining Cooper ISD. In June, the TEA upheld the school board's decision to retain Lake Creek. Lake Creekers complained Cooper ISD offered several advanced courses, an Interscholastic League program, and band and football activities while Delmar ISD did not. A further appeal to the Texas Board of Education was denied. News of this spread state-wide, with several sources throughout Texas reporting on this issue in the summer of 1977.

The federal government ordered Delmar ISD to comply with civil rights statues concerning Black employment in the spring of 1977. In the summer of August 1978, the federal government pressed Delmar further. It later adopted an affirmative action plan, hiring four Black instructors by 1979.

In 1980, its expenditures were $409,000 while its revenues were at $446,000.

Second consolidation attempt

In April 1985, the feasibility of the district began to once more become questioned. Paris ISD superintendent thought Delmar would be willing to consolidate with Paris.