Presentation to the Orange County Committee on School District Organization August 16, 2017 Dr. Gregory Franklin, Superintendent Peter Fagen, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost Jonathan Salt, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost Justin Levitt, National Demographics Corporation
Who are We? • District provides K-12 educational services at 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 1 K-8, 4 high schools, and 1 adult education school for students living in Tustin and portions of the Orange, Irvine, and Santa Ana areas of Orange County. • Comprised of approximately: • 24,130 Students • The District is a learning community rich in heritage and committed to a tradition of excellence. Our mission is to ensure that each student optimizes individual achievement through an educational system characterized by challenging and exciting curricula and inspiring personalized instruction .
Background • Spring 2017 • District received a demand letter alleging that the District’s at large method of election violates the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”) • May 15, 2017 – Regular Board Meeting • Board adopts resolution to: • Initiate transition to by-trustee area election system • State intent to seek waiver of election requirement from State Board of Education
Commitment to Transparency • The District has taken this transition to a new election system very seriously. • Throughout the process, the District has been, and continues to be, committed to transparency and educating its residents with public meetings and hearings.
AB 350 Revised Transition Requirements • Required to hold two (2) “pre - map” Public Hearings within a 30 day span to solicit public input in advance of the creation of map options by the District’s demographer, National Demographics Corporation (“NDC”) • Outreach efforts in advance of “Pre - Map” Public Hearings: • Letter home to parents in multiple languages • Newspaper advertisements • District website • Post notices of public hearing
Public Hearing – June 5, 2017 • Presentation to transparently inform the public regarding CVRA and the transition process and seek input in advance of draft map creation • Ample representation to receive proper community feedback • Counsel and NDC delivered a presentation explaining: • The criteria used when preparing map options • Demographic data charts and geographic data
Public Hearing – June 6, 2017 • Presentation to transparently inform the public regarding CVRA and the transition process and seek input in advance of draft map creation • Ample representation to receive proper community feedback • Counsel and NDC delivered a presentation explaining: • The criteria used when preparing map options • Demographic data charts and geographic data
Preparing Trustee Voting Area Plans: Federal & State Requirements • Federal Requirements • Equal Population • As equal as practical based on data and criteria from most recent Census Total Population • Minority Voting Rights • No Discriminatory Purpose; No Vote Dilution • Equal Protection • Race must not be a predominant factor • State Requirements • Topography • Geography • Cohesiveness, Contiguity, Integrity, & Compactness of territory • Community of Interest
Considerations: Preparing Trustee Voting Area Plans • Steps taken to prepare the Trustee Voting Area Plans: ▫ Attempted to draw a Majority-Minority District ▫ The maps you will see constitute the best available options within the confines of the law ▫ Each option increased CVAP (Citizen Voting Age Population) for the Latino voting bloc and has one majority-minority district
Geographic Data • School District Boundaries • Precincts • Streets and Highways • Parcels • Census Blocks • Attendance Areas
2010 Census Data
District Demographics Citizen Voting Age Population
District Demographics Citizen Voting Age Population
Considerations: District Demographics CVAP (Eligible Voters) • Total Population: 131,557 ▫ 42 % White ▫ 33 % Latino ▫ 22 % Asian White 51% Latino 22% Asian 23%
District Creates 4 Options • Cranberry • Green • Orange • Teal
Cranberry Map
Cranberry Demographics
Green Map
Green Demographics
Orange Map
Orange Demographics
Teal Map
Teal Demographics
Community Outreach June 5, 2017 Board Meeting: First Pre-Map Public Hearing June 6, 2017 Board Meeting: Second Pre-Map Public Hearing June 20, 2017 Board Meeting: First Public Hearing on Trustee Area scenarios Board Meeting: Second Public Hearing on Trustee Area scenarios June 26, 2017 Public Hearing on General Waiver Request Board Consideration of General Waiver Request Board Meeting: Final Public Hearing on Trustee Area scenarios July 10, 2017 Board Selection of Trustee Area map Board Consideration of Change in Election Method County Committee on School District Organization holds a public hearing and considers July 2017 approval of change in election method and trustee area map September 2017 State Board of Education meeting; waiver application consideration November 6, 2018 First election held utilizing Trustee Areas
Community Outreach • Public Hearing Notices on District’s website • Letters home to parents in multiple languages • Posted Notices at District sites • Posted Public Hearing Notices • Newspaper Advertisements
Letters to Parents
In the Community -Following the adoption of a Resolution to initiate the Transition. -Following the release of the 4 Trustee area map options.
Accessible Website
Accessible Website
Accessible Website
Interactive Web Viewer - HS
Interactive Web Viewer - MS
Interactive Web Viewer - ES
Public Hearing – June 20, 2017 • Presentation to transparently inform the public and solicit comments and questions regarding the draft Trustee Voting Area plans • Ample representation to receive proper community feedback : attended by NDC, Legal counsel and District representatives • Explained: • The criteria used in preparing the maps and the proposals • Demographic data charts and geographic data • Focus was on equal representation • Applicable laws and requirements to ensure a fair process
Public Hearing – June 26, 2017 • Presentation to transparently inform the public and solicit comments and questions regarding the draft Trustee Voting Area plans • Ample representation to receive proper community feedback : attended by NDC, Legal counsel and District representatives • Explained: • The criteria used in preparing the maps and the proposals • Demographic data charts and geographic data • Focus was on equal representation • Applicable laws and requirements to ensure a fair process
Public Hearing – July 10, 2017 • Presentation to transparently inform the public and solicit comments and questions regarding the draft Trustee Voting Area plans • Ample representation to receive proper community feedback : attended by NDC, Legal counsel and District representatives • Explained: • The criteria used in preparing the maps and the proposals • Demographic data charts and geographic data • Focus was on equal representation • Applicable laws and requirements to ensure a fair process
Waiver Application District efforts to obtain feedback regarding CDE waiver: In Spring 2017, Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin met with: - CTA -CSEA -PTA/PAC at District School sites
Waiver Application to SBE District Submits CDE waiver: • After soliciting feedback from stakeholders, and after a June 26, 2017 Public Hearing, Board approves General Waiver Request (Education Code section 5020 and portions of sections 5019, 5021 & 5030) • District submitted waiver request to SBE
Adoption of Trustee Area Plan – July 10, 2017 • Board passes Resolution to: • Select and adopt Trustee Voting Area option “ Orange ” • Recommend the Orange County Committee on School District Organization: 1) Approve the District’s transition to by- trustee area election system; and 2) Establish the Voting Trustee Areas based on the plan approved by District, Orange .
How & Why the Board Made its Final Decision • Selected the option that was determined to be in the best interests for the District • Orange determined: • Best fit for the District’s culture • Best considering school attendance boundaries • Made sense geographically and appropriately grouped communities of interest • Improved CVAP for Latino bloc • Majority-minority district Complies with both the spirit and letter of the CVRA laws
Adopted Plan
Adopted Plan: Demographics
Adopted Plan: Demographics
Adopted Plan: Demographics
Revised: Proper Outer-Boundary
Revised: Proper Outer-Boundary
Revised: Proper Outer-Boundary
Revised: Proper Outer-Boundary
Next Steps • August 16, 2017: Seek Approval from the Orange County Committee on School District Organization • Fall 2017: Receive response to waiver request from SBE • November 2018: Hold by-trustee area elections • 2018: Areas 3 & 5 • 2020: Areas 1, 2, & 4
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