Membership dues are now $25 for an individual member for the rest of the League year. Household memberships are $25 for the first person and $12.50 for another person at the same mailing address. Students may join for $20. Send a check payable to LWV-Denton to P.O. Box 424945 TWU Station, Denton, Texas 76204.

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IMMIGRATION POLICY: POINTS TO CONSIDER

Talk about taking on a challenging policy issue! Immigration policy is one of the hot topics of the decade. It seems that the only thing concerning immigration on which all of us agree is that the current U.S. policy isn’t working. But what, exactly, should we do about the laws that we have and what changes should we make?

Those questions and other similar ones prompted a national study on immigration policy, adopted at National Convention of the League of Women Voters of the United States in June 2006. In League fashion we first become informed about the history of immigration and the dilemma brought about by current immigration, both legal and illegal. We learn the points we should consider before we contribute our views to the national board who will determine in 2008 the League consensus on immigration policy.

On March 15, 7 p.m., we will hear from a panel whose work with immigration gives them insights on the problems of the day: Dr. Roberto Calderon, Robert Alcorn, and Hussein Sadruddin.

Roberto Calderon, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of History at the University of North Texas. His research and teaching fields are Mexican American Studies. His presentation will focus on the history of immigration along the Texas-Mexico border during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Robert Alcorn, CPA, has more than 25 years of experience in both industry and public accounting. He speaks Spanish and is involved in work with the Dallas immigration law community. Immigration taxation will be the focus of his remarks.

Hussein Sadruddin is an Attorney-at-Law with the firm of Jaime Barron, P.C. who specializes in immigration and civil rights. During his years as a lawyer he has provided legal assistance to refugees, asylees, and victims of human trafficking. His presentation will cover immigration myths and realities.

A special note of thanks to Anne Starnes, Director of Opening Doors Immigration Services here in Denton, who suggested these panelists and facilitated our contact with each person.

This meeting should be another highlight of LWV-Denton programs this year. Invite a friend to join you for an informative evening.

Sondra Ferstl
Immigration Study chair

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BACKGROUND READING ON IMMIGRATION

Don’t forget that the LWVUS study committee on immigration has posted background papers at www.lwv.org/ImmigrationStudy.

In addition, the February 2007 National VOTER has an article on “Immigration: A Historical Perspective” by Katherine Fennelly (pp. 4-7). A sidebar in these pages also spells out the scope of the Immigration Study.
PRESIDENT’S PODIUM

We lost two valuable friends this last month: Doris Dundas and Isabel Miller.

Doris was faithful in attending our general meetings and had made plans to attend Women’s Legislative Days and Lobby Day in January. She was a retired English teacher and had taught at Denton High School.

Isabel had not been active the last few years, but had held many positions on our Board of Directors, including VOTER Editor and President from 1973-75. She was one of four LWV-Denton members to serve on the LWV-TX Board of Directors (the other three being Gladys Barstis, Bobette Higgins, and Sondra Ferstl). Isabel was remembered by fellow state board member Eleanor Sutherland (Dallas) as “one astute Publications director and editor.” Joann Lovelace, former executive director of LWV-Texas, recalls Isabel as “a woman of uncommonly good sense” and thinks all League members from Denton are like that.

I’ll remember Doris for her soft-spoken way of asking questions and Isabel for her determination to make Denton a better place. (She did just that both politically and as a well-respected architect.)

Sue Smith

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FEBRUARY MEETING WRAP UP

We received an excellent presentation from Mia Price, President of the Denton Independent School District (DISD) at the February 22 meeting. Ms. Price gave a profile of the district, indicating that DISD encompasses 180 square miles. Projected new home starts are 32,400 in the district by 2018.

During her presentation of student demographics we learned that in the 2006-2007 school year, DISD enrolled 19,722 students. Of those, 37.5 percent are (see next page)
considered economically disadvantaged and receive free lunches; 12.3 percent receive special education; 15.5 percent have limited English proficiency. Eighty-one percent of the economically disadvantaged students live inside the city limits of Denton. Ms. Price indicated that results of the TAKS tests show continued improvement in reading, math, writing, social studies, and science.

The district moved from being ranked 94th in Texas to 25th for minimum teacher salary between 2000 and 2007. In that time DISD moved from 197th in maximum salary to 3rd. DISD salary ranks 11th in Texas for teachers with a master’s degree and our teachers have an average of 5.5 years of experience. Turnover rate is 12 percent. Twenty-six percent have advanced degrees.

During discussion Ms. Price noted that unfunded mandates and a lack of understanding on the part of state and federal legislators make funding of education increasingly difficult. The cost of land and construction continually increases the price of new schools. She believes that meeting requirements for state and federal testing is a constraint on teacher time and the opportunities for students to develop “higher learning.” She is opposed to linking teacher retention and salary to test results.

Peg La Point
Program VP

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sue Smith, President, lwvdenton@earthlink.net

Peg La Point, Program VP, tnplapoint@msn.com
Linnie McAdams, Organization VP, LMMcAdams@verizon.net

Ann MacMillan, Treasurer, amacmill@music.unt.edu
Maggie Dodd, Secretary, maggiedodddenton@aol.com

Ken Ferstl, VOTER Editor, klferstl@charter.net
Sondra Ferstl, Director, smferstl@charter.net