Carroll school district's legal battle against Northwest school district over boundaries may return to court.
A Carroll spokeswoman said officials intend to file a motion for a rehearing in the case to the state's Second District Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, which last week ordered Carroll’s claims dismissed.
The dispute over which district can claim 840 acres in Tarrant County has been a long legal battle characterized by trips to the Legislature, legal maneuvering, negotiations, judgments and appeals.
The land, known as the “disputed zone or disputed territory” is in Trophy Club and Southlake.
Northwest, based in far north Fort Worth, has argued that the courts do not have proper jurisdiction to decide the matter.
In a Feb. 16 judgment, the appeals court dismissed Carroll’s claims, and ordered Carroll to pay the costs of the appeal.
But Carroll schools spokeswoman Julie Thannum told the Star-Telegram on Wednesday the district plans to request a rehearing of the matter from the appeals court.
Northwest spokeswoman Lesley Weaver issued this statement on Thursday: “In response to Carroll ISD’s plans to continue pursuing legal action against Northwest ISD, we remain committed to the community and the children we educate in Northwest schools. This case has been dismissed twice previously and we feel the courts’ decisions have been in the best interest of students.”
During the litigation, Northwest has collected property taxes in the disputed zone. Carroll, based in Southlake, allows families who live in the disputed zone to attend its school district without paying tuition. About 46 such students are attending Carroll schools, Thannum said.
“There are no changes for the students or their siblings who live in the disputed zone and attend Carroll ISD,” Thannum said this week.
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