School Board Election Study
Task Force
Public Hearing Packet
Please take a few moments to go over the following information, which
includes a powerpoint presentation from the public hearings held on May
18th, 30th, and 31st, and a brief questionnaire. Please fill out and return the
questionnaire to the Office of Voter Registration by any of the following
ways:
• Mail to: Office of Voter Registration
PO Box 911
Charlottesville, VA 22902
• Fax to:
(434)970-3250
• Email to: Evan Smith, [email protected]
If you have any questions about the Task Force or how to get further
information on School Board Elections in Charlottesville, please call the
Office of Voter Registration, 970-3250.
School Board Election
Study Task Force
Welcome
Historical Background
Charge from City Council
Charge From City Council
Investigate ward-based school board elections
Evaluate not only the merits of 4-ward, 5-ward, 6-ward, all
ward (or no ward) systems, but also how wards might be
reasonably drawn, considering factors such as numerical
balance, racial makeup, contiguity, compactness,
neighborhoods and schools. The task force should strive to
present 2 or 3 choices for council consideration, with
discussion of value and policy implications of each choice;
if there is consensus among the committee on one
particular choice it should be noted.
Report to Council by July 17.
Task Force Members
Lloyd Snook, Chair
Rauzelle Smith, Vice Chair
Loren Intolubbe-Chmil
Leroy Hamlett
Ken Stroupe
Tom Vandever
Karen Waters
Charles “Buddy” Weber
Sheri Iachetta, Staff, General Registrar
Evan Smith, Staff, Deputy Registrar
How Tonight Will Work
Overview of Ward Systems
Multi-member districts
2 and 3 ward systems
Single member districts
4, 6 and 7 ward systems
Multi-member districts
Two Ward System
Electoral concept
3 members per ward
1 member at-large
Option 1
Population balance
Divides UVA student population
Ensures geographic diversity
Option 2
Boundary follows existing school districts
Population balance
UVA student population in Northwest sector
No guarantee of South representation
No majority-minority district
Enhanced minority voting power in South
Other options
Multi-member districts
Three Ward System
Electoral concept
2 members per ward
1 member at-large
Boundaries
Grouping of neighborhoods and schools
No more than 3 schools per ward
Population balance
No majority-minority district
Enhanced minority voting power in Ward 2
Single member districts
Four Ward System
Electoral concept
1 member per ward
3 members at-large
Proposal
Split UVA student population
Population balance
No majority-minority district
Enhanced minority voting power (South/East)
Other Options
Majority-minority district
Single member districts
Six Ward System
Electoral concept
1 member per ward
1 member at-large
Option 1
Boundaries based on existing school districts
Each ward represents one elementary school
All members represent upper schools
Population imbalance
UVA student population
School capacities
No majority-minority district
Enhanced minority voting power in 4 of the 6 wards
Option 2
Population balance
One majority-minority district (Ward 5)
Enhanced minority voting power in Ward 2
No retrogression in Ward 4
Single member districts
Seven Ward System
Electoral concept
Pure ward elections
No at large seats
Boundaries
Population Balance
Ward 2 is a majority/minority district
Enhanced minority voting power in Ward 5
Discussion Points
System
At-large
Mixed ward/at large
Pure ward
Legal Issues
Population balance
Retrogression
Majority/minority district
Compact and contiguous
Voter Issues
Accountable
Responsive
Accessible
Knowledgeable candidates
Knowledge of the candidate
Focus on issues
Vote for representative vs.
vote for all
Discussion Points
Election Issues
Non-partisan
Campaigning (cost, time, effort, message)
Diversity (racial, socio-economic, geographic
thought)
Operational Issues
Relationship to City Council
Relationship to Superintendent
Public Comments
(Limited to 3 minutes per person)
Call in number with questions
989-9373
School Board Election Task Force
Public Hearing Questionnaire
Thank you for your interest and participation in the process of deciding upon a system for
electing members of the Charlottesville City School Board. Please take a few minutes to
complete this questionnaire. Be sure to include your address or precinct.
Please consider the following options before proceeding to the questions below:
An at-large system of elections (also referred to as multi-member districts) for
Charlottesville School Board would enable voters to participate in the selection of
members for every open seat on the local school board. Such a system does not
guarantee that the elected member(s) will be from a specific area(s) of the City.
A ward or precinct system of elections (also referred to as single-member districts) for
Charlottesville School Board would enable voters within each ward or precinct to elect at
least one member of the school board who would reside within a citizen’s specific
electoral precinct or ward. Such a system would only allow voters of a specific ward or
precinct to cast ballots for candidates running to represent that ward or precinct.
A mixed ward/at-large system would create a certain number of wards and leave a
certain number of members to be elected at-large. Such a design would allow for a
number of members of the School Board to be elected from within local wards or
precincts, and only the voters of each respective ward or precinct would vote for
candidates running to represent that specific ward or precinct. The remaining number
would be elected at at-large, and voters from all wards or precincts would be able to cast
ballots in those at-large contests.
1. How important is it to you to be able to vote for EVERY member of the
Charlottesville City School Board?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Very important
Somewhat important
Somewhat unimportant
Very unimportant
I don't have an opinion on this issue
2. How important is it to you to be able to elect at least one member to the
Charlottesville City School Board who resides within your precinct or ward?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Very important
Somewhat important
Somewhat unimportant
Very unimportant
I don't have an opinion on this issue
3. Considering again the information at the top of the page, would you favor or oppose a
system of elections for Charlottesville City School Board which enables voters to elect some
members of the school board at large and some members from within specific wards or
precincts?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Strongly favor
Somewhat favor
Somewhat oppose
Strong oppose
I don't have an opinion on this issue
4. The Charlottesville School Board is a seven-member board. Considering the plans
currently under consideration, which plan comes closest to how you would like to see an
election system for Charlottesville City School Board designed?
A) All candidates elected at-large.
B) Three members per district (multi-member districts) with the remaining one member elected
at-large.
C) Four single-member districts with the remaining three members elected at-large.
D) Five single-member districts with the remaining two members elected at-large.
E) Six single-member districts with the remaining one member elected at-large.
F) Seven single-member districts with no members elected at-large.
5. If the City of Charlottesville were to establish some variation of a ward or precinct
system of elections for Charlottesville School Board, in your opinion how important is it
that the City establish at least one ward or precinct where the majority of the population
living within the boundaries of such ward(s) or precinct(s) would be African-American
(majority-minority)?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Very important
Somewhat important
Somewhat unimportant
Very unimportant
I don't have an opinion on this issue
6. Do you have children who are currently enrolled in a Charlottesville City public school?
A) Yes
B) No
7. Please use the space below to provide any additional comments you may have.
Address and/or Precinct ___________________________________________________