School illegally tried to attract white students, attorneys say

By JULIA GLICK
Associated Press Writer

DALLAS (AP) -- A Dallas public school "crossed the line" in trying to appeal to parents of white students, including the PTA president's idea to limit the number of Hispanics pictured in a brochure, attorneys argued Wednesday in a racial segregation lawsuit.

Latino parents at mostly Hispanic Preston Hollow Elementary School filed a federal lawsuit against principal Teresa Parker and the Dallas Independent School District in April. The suit alleges that Hispanic and black students were kept in English as a Second Language classes even when they tested out and that multiage courses with almost all white students were created.

"The defendants have crossed the line in this case with their attempts to segregate white children into separate classes, with their attempts to attract white students and ultimately with their attempts to halt white flight in violation of the law," David Hinojosa, a lawyer with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said in opening arguments before a federal judge.