Trustee Area Elections and Map

Public Hearing Map Options Presentation - 02/18/2020

Map Options for Transition From “At-Large” To “By-Trustee Area” Elections - 02/13/2020

Dear Cotati-Rohnert Park USD Community: 

As the District continues to move through the process of transitioning to “by-Trustee-area” elections under the legal requirements of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), we have reached a critical point.  The District is releasing three map options to the community for study and input.  All three of the map options being considered meet the legal requirements outlined in CVRA.    The District is providing three in-person opportunities to the community to review and provide feedback over the next five weeks before the Board of Education votes on March 10, 2020 for a map that will be put into effect for the November 2020 Board elections. 

This release of map options comes at the end of the “Pre-Map” period wherein the District engaged the community with two public hearings to solicit input before drawing map options.  

Each map option for consideration: 

1. Meets the equal population requirement (that each trustee area have equal population with up to a 10% variance); 

2. Increases the voting power of the largest protected classes in the District (Hispanic/Latino; Asian; and African American) by Citizen Voting Age Population (CVAP/eligible voters) in at least one Trustee Area based on up-to-date CVAP statistics compared to District-wide averages;  

3. Complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act; 

4. Respects communities of interest as much as possible; 

5. Is compact and contiguous as much as possible; and 

6. Follows man-made and natural geographic features as much as possible. 


Upcoming Meeting and Hearing Schedule 
All Public Hearings will take place at the District Office Board Room (7165 Burton Ave., Rohnert Park) at 6:00 PM during the Governing Board meeting: 
 
• February 18, 2020 – 1st Public Hearing  

• February 27, 2020 – 2nd Public Hearing  

• March 10, 2020 – 3rd Public Hearing  


 
The Cotati-Rohnert Park community is invited to attend as many meetings and public hearings as you would like.  If you cannot attend and wish to review and/or comment regarding the proposed map options under consideration, please submit your comments and feedback to trusteeareaelections@crpusd.org or comment via telephone at (707) 792-4722.  All map preference feedback will be relayed to the Board prior to its discussion and adoption of a map option.   We look forward to your continued participation! 
 
Sincerely, 
 
 
Michael Watenpaugh, Ed.D. 
Interim Superintendent 

All Map Options Are Also Available for Review Via This Interactive Google Map here: 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1V7_8rAkAGbmNVDBvSh20VBf31d73U2pe&usp=sharing

Map Options for Transition From “At-Large” To “By-Trustee Area” Elections - 02/11/2020

Dear Cotati-Rohnert Park USD Community:

As the District continues to move through the process of transitioning to “by-Trustee-area” elections under the legal requirements of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), we have reached a critical point.  The District is releasing three map options to the community for study and input.  All three of the map options being considered meet the legal requirements outlined in CVRA.  

The District is providing three in-person opportunities to the community to review and provide feedback over the next five weeks before the Board of Education votes on March 10, 2020 for a map that will be put into effect for the November 2020 Board elections.

 This release of map options comes at the end of the “Pre-Map” period wherein the District engaged the community with two public hearings to solicit input before drawing map options. 

 Each map option for consideration:

1. Meets the equal population requirement (that each trustee area have equal population with up to a 10% variance);
2. Increases the voting power of the largest protected classes in the District (Hispanic/Latino; Asian; and African American) by Citizen Voting Age Population (CVAP/eligible voters) in at least one Trustee Area based on up-to-date CVAP statistics compared to District-wide averages; 
3. Complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act;
4. Respects communities of interest as much as possible;
5. Is compact and contiguous as much as possible; and
6. Follows man-made and natural geographic features as much as possible.

Upcoming Meeting and Hearing Schedule

February 18, 2020 – 1st Public Hearing regarding Map Options at 6:00 p.m. during the Governing Board meeting at the District Office Board Room (7165 Burton Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928)

February 27, 2020 – 2nd Public Hearing regarding Map Options at 6:00 p.m. during the Governing Board meeting at the District Office Board Room (7165 Burton Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928)

March 10, 2020 – 3rd Public Hearing regarding Map Options at 6:00 p.m. and adopt map option during the Governing Board meeting at the District Office Board Room (7165 Burton Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928)

 The Cotati-Rohnert Park community is invited to attend as many meetings and public hearings as you would like.  If you cannot attend and wish to review and/or comment regarding the proposed map options under consideration, please submit your comments and feedback to trusteeareaelections@crpusd.org or comment via telephone at (707) 792-4722.  All map preference feedback will be relayed to the Board prior to its discussion and adoption of a map option. 

We look forward to your continued participation!

All Map Options Are Also Available For Review Via This Interactive Google Map here:  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1V7_8rAkAGbmNVDBvSh20VBf31d73U2pe&usp=sharing

Scenario A: 

Scenario B:

Scenario C:

Transitioning To Trustee Area Elections

On December 19,2019 the Board of Trustees approved a resolution that indicates its intention to transition Board elections to by-trustee area elections. Board members are currently elected in "at-large" elections, where each member is elected by voters throughout the District. Whereas, members are elected by voters in geographical subdivisions of the jurisdiction, known as "trustee areas," in "by-trustee-area" elections.

The California Voting Rights Act's (CVRA) purpose is to ensure that the use of at-large elections does not prevent minority groups from electing candidates of their choice to the elected boards of local agencies. The CVRA allows an individual to file suit over an alleged violation, allows a successful challenger to recover their attorneys' fees from the agency and provides courts with broad authority to impose remedies to prevent the dilution of minority votes.

The resolution approved by the Board also provides a general outline of the public process for developing the trustee area boundary map which would be used to implement by-trustee area elections.  Members of the public are able to provide public comment or input at one of the five public hearings as part of the process, including two public hearings prior to the development of any draft maps.

 Attend an Upcoming Session! The Board is undertaking a mapping process to define the trustee areas, and we need your help!  CRPUSD is committed to transparency and encourages residents and stakeholders to participate. All people will be heard! All comments will be recorded and considered.

Public Hearings

The community is invited to attend and comment on draft maps. All public hearings will take place at CRPUSD Board meetings

Pre-Map Public Hearings

COMPLETED                January 14, 2020         CRPUSD Board Room  6:00 PM

COMPLETED                January 21, 2020         CRPUSD Board Room  6:00 PM

Post-Map Public Hearings

February 18, 2020       CRPUSD Board Room  6:00 PM

February 27, 2020       CRPUSD Board Room  6:00 PM

March 10, 2020           CRPUSD Board Room  6:00 PM

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I learn more about districting and redistricting?
There are a number of online publications and guides to redistricting. You can start with this one from MALDEF and the NAACP, or this (long) one from the Brennan Center, this one from the League of Women Voters, or this FAQ from the California Independent Redistricting Commission.

Why is CRPUSD transitioning to trustee area elections?
In 2002, the Legislature enacted the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) (Elec. Code §§14025 – 14032), which prohibits California public agencies, including public school districts, from imposing or applying an at-large election method “that impairs the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice or its ability to influence the outcome of an election” (Elec. Code §14027). A protected class is defined by the CVRA as “a class of voters who are members of a race, color, or language minority group, as this class is referenced and defined in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965”.

In a lawsuit brought pursuant to the CVRA, a plaintiff who establishes a history of “racially polarized voting” under a school district's at-large election system can require a school district to change to a district-based election system. On December 19, 2019, the SRCS Board of education adopted a resolution outlining its intention to transition from at-large to district-based elections, which included specific steps the District will undertake to facilitate the transition, and an estimated time frame for doing so.

How will trustee area boundaries be created?
Below is the criteria used for creating trustee areas:

1. Each trustee area must contain a nearly equal population.
2. Trustee area borders must be drawn in a manner that complies with the federal, state, and any applicable law.
3. In establishing trustee areas, the Board of Education may give consideration to the following factors: topography, geography, cohesiveness, contiguity, integrity, compactness of territory, and community of interests.
4. The Board of Education may also establish other criteria, so long as they do not conflict with federal, state, or applicable law.

Are other school districts making this change?
More than 200 school districts and 100 cities across the state are making this change in large part due to the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). Other school districts which have recently made this change include Santa Rosa CS, Dublin USD, West Contra Costa USD, Martinez USD and Redwood City SD, while several others are in the process of making this change including Novato USD, Antioch USD and San Ramon Valley USD.

Can you tell me more about the process? 
Switching to by-trustee elections will require the District to create five geographic trustee areas within the District, each assigned to one seat on the Board. Voters within each trustee area will vote only for candidates for the seat on the Board assigned to their trustee area. The Board is working with a professional demographer to create proposed trustee area boundaries which will be refined and revised following the public’s input. Ultimately, the Board will adopt a proposed map which will be reviewed and approved by the Sonoma County Committee on School District Organization. Once the transition is approved, Board elections will be transitioned to by-trustee area elections beginning with the 2020 election. The current Board members will continue in office until the expiration of their terms in 2020 or 2022.
 

How often are the voting trustee areas reviewed?
Trustee areas are reviewed every ten years, following the Census. 

Public Hearing - Comments in Advance of Preparing Trustee Area Map Options

Click HERE to download Powerpoint

Click HERE for PDF download

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
COTATI-ROHNERT PARK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT


NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Board of Trustees of the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District as part of the transition to a by-trustee area election system to receive community comments and public testimony concerning the composition of potential trustee voting areas associated with the District’s transition to a by-trustee area election system in advance of the preparation of draft trustee voting area plans by the District’s demographer.

YOU WILL THEREFORE TAKE NOTICE THAT a public hearing will be held before the Board of Trustees of the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District as follows:

            Date:               January 21, 2020

            Place:              District Office – Board Room
                                     7165 Burton Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

            Time:              6:00 p.m.

The public hearing shall be in accordance with California Elections Code section 10010.

Please contact Mindy McKeon, Executive Assistant, at (707) 792-4722 if you require more information prior to the Public Hearing.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
COTATI-ROHNERT PARK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Board of Trustees of the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District as part of the transition to a by-trustee area election system to receive community comments and public testimony concerning the composition of potential trustee voting areas associated with the District’s transition to a by-trustee area election system in advance of the preparation of draft trustee voting area plans by the District’s demographer.

YOU WILL THEREFORE TAKE NOTICE THAT a public hearing will be held before the Board of Trustees of the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District as follows:

            Date:               January 14, 2020

            Place:              District Office – Board Room

                                    7165 Burton Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

            Time:              6:00 p.m.

The public hearing shall be in accordance with California Elections Code section 10010.

Please contact Mindy McKeon, Executive Assistant, at (707) 792-4722 if you require more information prior to the Public Hearing.

Transition to a New System of Electing Board of Trustee Members 

Starting on December 19, 2019, the District initiated the process of transitioning the method by which Governing Board members are elected. Under the current "at-large" system, all registered voters in the District's boundaries can vote for candidates for Board member seats. Under the new proposed system, candidates will be elected by "trustee areas." This means only voters within a given trustee area can vote for candidates who reside within that same area. The intent of this proposed system is to offer greater opportunities for Board representation for candidates that might not otherwise be elected under an at-large system. 

Transitioning to this new system requires the Board to hold public hearings on proposed trustee area boundaries (or maps) prior to asking the Sonoma County Committee on School District Organization to approve the change. If the Committee approves the change, "by-trustee" area voting would be held starting with the 2020 general election, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Before the District prepares and presents draft map options, the law requires the District to hold two public hearings to solicit comments and feedback regarding potential trustee areas. Thereafter, the District will be hosting a series of public hearings regarding the map options, once created. The dates/times and locations of the upcoming public hearings are shown below. You are invited to attend as many as you would like. If you cannot attend a hearing or meeting and wish to review and/or comment regarding potential trustee areas as well as on the proposed "trustee area" maps, once created, please do not hesitate to submit your comments and feedback to the email address below. Following the initial public hearings, the proposed maps will be created and posted here. 

Contact Email: trusteeareaelections@crpusd.org
Contact Phone: (707) 792-4722

Public Hearings (Prior to Creation of Map Options)

Public Hearings (After Creation of Map Options)

NOTE: Board vote on trustee area boundaries to follow third Public Hearing: On March 10, 2020, in the District Office -Board Room located at 7165 Burton Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 at 6:00 p.m.

Download Links

Notice of Public Hearing

Transition to a New System of Electing Board of Trustee Members

Haga clic aquí para obtener una copia en español

Archived Trustee Area Maps 2020

07/02/2020

Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District has changed the way that Board of Education members are elected. Previously, Board members were elected "atlarge," where each member is elected by voters throughout the District’s territory. Under the new system, the Board members will be elected by-trustee-area; they will be required to live in the area they represent and will be elected only by the registered voters of that area. The new system will be in effect for the next CRPUSD Board of Education election in November 2020.

Scenario Map B

At its meeting on March 10, 2020, the Board selected and adopted "Scenario Map B" which identifies the trustee area boundaries and the associated election sequence. The action followed a public mapping process that included a series of public hearings and community sessions.

Election Sequencing

Trustees elected prior to March 10, 2020 will fulfill their full term. There are two trustees elected in 2018 whose term does not end until 2022.  The Board also approved the sequencing for the shift to Trustee Area Elections.

2020

Trustee Areas 3 and 5 will be on the November 2020 Ballot.

2022

Trustee Areas 1, 2 and 4 will be on the November 2022 Ballot