Lone Star petition garners 70% of voters

Since early in the summer a group of citizens who live in the old Lone Star School District have been securing signatures on a petition requesting detachment from the Oakwood Independent School District and annexation to either Buffalo ISD or Centerville ISD or both.

The old Lone Star District has been in the Oakwood ISD since 1971. Its boundaries reach past I-45 at FM 2539, or Harcrow Lake Road, within two miles of Buffalo on the north/east. Portions of the south/east boundaries go almost to the “double S” curves on Highway 75 then past I-45, less than three miles from Centerville.

According to Leon County Election Administrator, Robin Shafer, there are approximately 700 registered voters in the old Lone Star District. A majority of 51% is required to advance the petition to its next level of execution. On Thursday, September 2, the number of qualified, registered voters who have signed the petition is 500 or 71%.

According to Barbara Johnson, who is leading the effort, the next step is to turn the petition in to Shafer and have her verify the validity of the signatures. Once that is accomplished Johnson and supporters will begin meeting with the three school boards involved and, hopefully, come to a resolution. If the school boards agree that the detachment and annexation is in the best interest of the school children and the communities, the petition will move to the Leon County Commissioners Court to decide the boundaries.

If an agreement cannot be reached by the school boards the petition will be taken to the Commissioner of Education for a ruling.