Riverside Unified School District
3380 14th Street  Riverside, CA  92501
Board Meeting Agenda
May 7, 2012
Topic:
Trustee Area Map Scenarios in Compliance With the California and Federal
Voting Rights Acts
Presented by:
Michael Fine, Deputy Superintendent, Business Services and Governmental
Relations
Responsible
Cabinet Member: Michael Fine, Deputy Superintendent, Business Services and Governmental
Relations
Type of Item:
Report
Short Description: Staff will share two scenarios for potential trustee area boundaries for
Governing Board elections pursuant to the provisions of California Education
Code Section 5019 et seq. and the California and Federal Voting Rights Acts.
DESCRIPTION OF AGENDA ITEM:
On August 15, 2011, the Board of Education began a conversation about undertaking a study to
determine whether or not the need exists to consider the establishment of trustee areas for
Governing Board elections pursuant to the provisions of the California Education Code and the
California Elections Code. On February 6, 2012, the Board of Education continued the
discussion by identifying specific legal and demographical criteria that would be used to draw
potential districting scenarios. Eight criteria were broken down in to two categories – “legal”
and “local preference” criteria.
On April 16, 2011, the Board of Education took action to:
1. Commission the preparation of up to three (3) draft Trustee Area Map Scenarios to be
reviewed by the Board of Education on May 7.
2. Schedule a minimum of three (3) three community meetings to review the draft Trustee Area
Map Scenarios and to solicit community member input on the scenarios. These meetings
will be held May 14, 15 and 16.
3. Set a public hearing for May 21, 2012 to consider the final Trustee Area Map Scenario.
To this end, two draft Trustee Area Map Scenarios (Scenario A and Scenario B) have been
prepared that comply with the California and Federal Voting Rights Acts. Community Meetings
will be held in an open house style informational setting as follows:
Report Agenda — Page 1
Monday, May 14 – Taft ES
Tuesday, May 15 – Emerson ES
Wednesday, May 16 – Madison ES
Each meeting will be from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Notices of the meetings have been mailed and
emailed to several hundred persons with potential interest in the topic. Furthermore, a web page
has been established to both share information and to facilitate community input on the
scenarios.
FISCAL IMPACT: None related to this specific agenda item.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Board of Education hear staff’s report on
the two scenarios for potential trustee area boundaries for Governing Board elections pursuant to
the provisions of California Education Code Section 5019 et seq. and the California and Federal
Voting Rights Acts.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Trustee Area Map Scenarios A and B, Various Materials for
Community Meetings
Attached: Yes
Report Agenda — Page 2
Welcome to the Riverside Unified School District
Trustee Areas Public Forum
The Riverside Unified School District ("District") Board of Education is considering a change from at-large
elections to by-trustee area elections. The change, if approved, would go into effect starting with the
November 2013 elections for the Board of Education. Currently, the District's five member Board of
Education is elected by voters across the entire District. If the change in election method is approved,
starting with the elections in November 2013, members of the Board of Education will only be elected by
voters who reside in the areas that Board members are elected from.
As part of this consideration, the District also initiated the creation of election areas that would be roughly
equal in population and in compliance with State law, the Federal Voting Rights Act and the United
States Constitution. Using data from the 2010 Census, the District's consultant, Dolinka Group, has
created two conceptual trustee area scenarios that divide the District into five new voting areas. The
Board of Education is now seeking public input on those scenarios.
Requirements for Trustee Areas
Section 1002 of the California Education Code requires that voting districts be "nearly equal in
population." Case law has established that a variance of up to 10 percent in total population from the
largest voting area to the smallest voting area is allowable. Additional information on criteria utilized in
the drawing of trustee areas is available at the next station.
Community Open House Process
This open house is divided into four stations where participants can review information, ask questions,
gain additional information about the process and the proposed scenarios, and provide feedback and
suggestions.
Station 1: Sign-in and introduction to the community input meeting process
Station 2: Information on the boundaries of the District, the total population and demographics of the
District, information on the timeline for considering the creation of trustee areas, and criteria utilized in
creating the two conceptual scenarios.
Station 3: Information on the two conceptual trustee area scenarios, including the boundary lines and
population data as well as the ability to review data on individual areas and see the impact of potential
adjustments to the scenarios
Station 4: Provide written comments and suggestions on proposed trustee areas (comments received
will be summarized and reviewed by the Board of Education).
To find updates on the process, please go to http://www.rusdlink.org
Trustee Area Process – Timeline
February 6,
2012
April 16, 2012
Board of Education
establishes priority of
criteria to consider in
creating conceptual
trustee areas
Board of Education sets
meeting schedule and
timeline for
consideration of change
in election method and
approval of trustee area
plan
May 21, 2012
June 18, 2012
Board of Education
conducts public hearing
on maps and receives
public input from
community forums
Board of Education
consideration of change
in election method,
petition to County
Committee, and
selection of a trustee
area plan
Riverside Unified School District │ Trustee Area Timeline
May 7, 2012
Board of Education
reviews two conceptual
trustee area scenarios
and provides feedback
July 2012
County Committee on
School District
Organization holds
public hearing in School
District on change in
election method and
trustee area plan
Week of
May 14, 2012
Community input
meetings at Taft,
Emerson and Madison
elementary schools to
provide information and
solicit feedback from
members of the
community
November 2012
State Board of
Education considers
request to waive need
for election of voters to
change election method
Page 1
Riverside Unified School District
Trustee Area Public Forum
May 15, 2012 – Emerson Elementary School
Comment Form
Name:
Organization (Optional):
Address (Optional):
Phone Number (Optional):
E-Mail (Optional):
Comments/Suggestions: