South Pasadena Unified School District may be transitioning to a new election system to select members of the Board of Education (Trustees).
The District will be divided into trustee areas and one governing board member will be elected by the registered voters in that particular trustee area. Voters will decide only between candidates that live in their own area. Adhering to the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), the District is embarking on a process to establish a map of the specific areas for each trustee position available. Each area elects one trustee. Under the new system, candidates will be elected by equally populated "trustee areas."
This new system is known as “by-trustee area voting.” The intent of this proposed system is to offer greater opportunities for Board representation for candidates who might not otherwise be elected under the current election method. The system we have in place right now is called “at-large” and allows every resident within the district’s boundaries to vote to elect all trustees.
With the new election method, a key component is the drawing of the map with boundary lines for each geographic area, since voters will only decide on the Trustee that corresponds to the area where they reside.
We value and promote the participation of our community. It is crucial to know that the transition to the “by-trustee” area election system will involve input from our school community, with public hearings on proposed trustee area boundaries (or maps).
South Pasadena Unified has planned public hearings for the next four months, with the expectation of feedback from stakeholders.
Public Hearings
Before Creation of Maps Options
September 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Virtual
October 12, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
District Board Room, 1100 El Centro Street, South Pasadena
Before the maps are created by a professional demographer, the Board will host two hearings where the community is invited to provide input on the potential composition of trustee areas. The “pre-map” public hearings will occur during regularly scheduled Board meetings on September 14 and October 12, 2021. We look forward to your participation at those hearings.
Following the “pre-map” public hearings, the proposed maps will be created by a demographer and shared on the District’s
website.
After Creation of Maps Options
December 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
District Board Room, 1100 El Centro Street, South Pasadena
January 11, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
District Board Room, 1100 El Centro Street, South Pasadena
Once the draft maps are created, the Board will host two more public hearings. These map public hearings will occur during regularly scheduled Board meetings on December 14 and January 11. The community will have opportunity to review and provide feedback on whether the map reflects the community’s preferences.
At the meeting on January 11, 2022, the Board will vote to approve of one of the trustee area maps for the District.