Independent school district

An independent school district (ISD) is a type of school district in some US states for primary and secondary education that operates as an entity independent and separate from any municipality, county, or state. As such, the administrative leadership of such districts is selected from within the district itself and has no direct responsibility to any other governmental authority. This independence normally also implies that the district has its own taxing authority that is outside the direct control of other governmental entities.

The headquarters of the Houston Independent School District, one of the largest school districts in the United States

The state of Texas has by far the largest number of independent school districts, with almost all of its districts falling into this category (Stafford Municipal School District being the notable exception).[1] The term independent may be used to describe other types of school districts, though this is less common.

The use of the term independent can vary in actual application in those states that even use the term. In Kentucky, for example, all school districts are independent of the state, county, and municipal governments. However, state law defines an "independent school district" as one whose jurisdiction does not cover an entire county, instead covering a city or cluster of cities.[2]

History

Historically, as school districts were formed in the United States, they have generally been tied to municipal or county governments who have funded and administered them.

In Texas during the early 1900s, school districts were generally divisions of county or municipal governments as in most of the country. The onset of the Texas Oil Boom dramatically changed many aspects of the state and many communities within it. Sudden discoveries of large petroleum reserves created numerous boomtowns whose populations often multiplied tremendously in short periods. The growth was often a mixed blessing for these communities. The rapid demographic change in the once small towns often initially caused severe strain on the local school systems unprepared for the rapid influx of students. Even as money was rapidly flowing in the communities, obtaining tax revenue efficiently where it was needed was often complex.[1] Communities dealt with these problems by establishing independent school districts which could establish their own taxing authority and more quickly adjust to changing financial demands. By 1921-2, the state had 858 independent school districts and 7,369 common school districts. Through the middle of the 20th century, many smaller common school district combined to become independent school districts.[3] This type of school district is still the standard in Texas today.[1]

Structure and administration

Texas

In the state of Texas, each district is run by a school board. The elected council of the school board helps determine educational policy within the boundaries of the school district, its taxable area, which is "independent" of county and municipal lines. The board also has the ultimate say in the hiring and firing of principals and superintendents and other district-wide administrative positions. The employment of teachers in individual schools, however, is usually left to the principal and administrative staff of the respective schools.

A district can serve areas outside the city limits of the city it is named for. For example, Lewisville Independent School District completely encompasses the city limits of Lewisville, The Colony, Flower Mound, and Highland Village (while Lewisville is arguably the largest of the cities it serves, this is not always the case). In fact, it is very common for multiple small suburbs or communities, with distinct city governments, to be served by a single school district. Conversely, large cities may include part or all of several school districts, often associated with communities that became part of the city by annexation while retaining their own school districts; for example, the city limits of San Antonio includes portions of the school districts Alamo Heights, East Central, North East, Northside, San Antonio, South San Antonio, Southside, and Southwest.[4]

The term "independent" is very applicable in modern times, despite its early origins. As an example, the City of Dallas and the Dallas Independent School District are completely separate-run entities; while both experience similar problems caused by similar factors, issues and corruption that arose within the Dallas School Board did not arise from, or link to, any corruption within the city government of Dallas itself.

Kentucky

In Kentucky standard school districts are organized at county level, with the district borders being identical with county boundaries unless the county contains one or more independent districts.[5] The latter type of district is completely separate from any county district. (Both types of districts have taxing authority independent of counties, although the taxes they levy are physically collected by county governments.) Following the most recent closures of independent districts in 2019 and 2020, the state has 52 independent school districts along with 120 county districts.[6][7] The largest concentrations of independent districts are found in Northern Kentucky and the eastern coal region. Independent districts can be associated with:

a single city—such as Ashland, Bowling Green, Owensboro, or Paducah—or
a cluster of adjoining cities—such as the Caverna district, serving Cave City and Horse Cave; Erlanger–Elsmere, or the Russell district, which also serves Bellefonte and almost all of Flatwoods.

Kentucky independent districts can cross county lines. The two cities served by the Caverna district are in different counties. Another such district serves Corbin, a city divided by a county line.

Notes

"The Depot Museum: Oil Boom". Depot Museum, Henderson, Texas. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
Kentucky Revised Statutes § 160.020.
Corbett Smith (19 April 2018). "Why do cities, counties and school districts have wacky boundaries? Curious Texas brings the history". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
San Antonio Economic Development Foundation - Living Here: Education - School Districts Archived 2013-02-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
Kentucky Revised Statutes § 160.010.
Honeycutt Spears, Valarie (February 12, 2019). "Kentucky will have one less school district with this decision to close and merge". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, KY. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
Sidery, Sara (February 20, 2020). "West Point schools to shut down, merge with Hardin County school district". Louisville, KY: WDRB. Retrieved February 24, 2020.

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[Depot_Museum-1] "The Depot Museum: Oil Boom". Depot Museum, Henderson, Texas. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.

[2] Kentucky Revised Statutes § 160.020.

[3] Corbett Smith (19 April 2018). "Why do cities, counties and school districts have wacky boundaries? Curious Texas brings the history". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 19 April 2018.

[saedf-4] San Antonio Economic Development Foundation - Living Here: Education - School Districts Archived 2013-02-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 12, 2013.

[5] Kentucky Revised Statutes § 160.010.

[6] Honeycutt Spears, Valarie (February 12, 2019). "Kentucky will have one less school district with this decision to close and merge". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, KY. Retrieved October 26, 2019.

[7] Sidery, Sara (February 20, 2020). "West Point schools to shut down, merge with Hardin County school district". Louisville, KY: WDRB. Retrieved February 24, 2020.