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California Voting Rights Act - Transition to By-District Trustee ElectionsTop of Page
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BackgroundTop of Page
The California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) is intended to minimize racially polarized voting in Board Trustee elections by moving agencies from at-large elections to voting districts. On [date], the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees received a Notice of Violation of the CVRA. The notice demands that the Governing Board immediately transition from the current at-large elections system to a district-based one.
The transition to a district-based election system is an open, public process where public input is highly sought after and appreciated. California Elections Code Section 10010 mandates that five public hearings must be held throughout the transition process, but the Board of Trustees may choose to hold as many public community workshops as necessary to gather as much public input as possible within the time constraints for the overall project. The initial public hearings gather input from the community to better understand the distinct neighborhoods within ESUHSD; this information is used to create the draft district maps that will be released in the following months. The deadline to approve the district maps is [date].
[date] – Letter from Shenkman & Hughes
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ProcessTop of Page
Community input and census data are used to determine how districts should be drawn in the East Side Union High School District. To assist with the transition, the Board of Trustees hired Redistricting Partners, a firm that specializes in drawing district lines for jurisdictions.
The formal districting process includes five public hearings with the Board of Trustees. ESUHSD will also host in-person community workshops and pop-up events to provide opportunities for the public to engage in the process.
There are two phases of public engagement:
Phase 1: Communities of Interest
Before any official draft maps are drawn, the public is encouraged to share input to help define local Communities of Interest (COI). This includes gathering information about racial and social demographics, neighborhood geography, and how residents relate to their school district.
Two public hearings are held to review the process and gather input. Residents can also provide input by filling out Communities of Interest forms.
Phase 2: District Mapping
Census data and COI feedback are used to develop draft maps. The public can also submit draft maps through online tools or by hand through printable maps provided by the District. Two public hearings are held to collect feedback and review draft maps. The Board of Trustees will consider adoption of a final district map and determine election sequencing during a fifth public hearing.
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TimelineTop of Page
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[date] xxxx Board Meeting - CVRA Overview and Adoption of Resolution of Intent to Transition
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[date] xxxx Board Meeting - Selection of District Demographer, and Pre-Map Public Hearing #1
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[date] xxxx Board Meeting - Pre-Map Public Hearing #2
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[date] xxxx - Demographer to prepare at least 3 options based on public comment/input and Board direction
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[date] xxxx Board Meeting - Map Consideration Public Hearing #1
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October 19 Regular Board Meeting - Map Consideration Public Hearing #2
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[date] xxxx Board Meeting & Public Hearing - Map Decision and Election Sequencing
The Board shall take action to adopt a final map and approve the election sequencing. Board may extend the process by directing the revision of the final map(s) if necessary.
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Community Outreach / Public Hearings / MeetingsTop of Page
Community Outreach
Public Hearings
Board Meetings
Meetings
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Draft MapsTop of Page
Submit a Map
Submit a map! Community members have the opportunity to submit maps identifying where they believe district boundaries should be drawn. These maps will be considered by the East Side Union High School District alongside those drawn by the demographer for adoption. Maps must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on _______, 2025 to be considered at the ____, 2025 Public Hearing.
District-Based Elections Mapping Tool
East Side Union High School District encourages residents to provide feedback on the district-based elections by participating in an interactive Districting Mapping Exercise.
Draft Maps
Maps Submitted by the Public (before [date])
Maps Submitted by the Public (before [date])
Maps Submitted by the Public (before [date])
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Community of InterestTop of Page
We Want to Hear from You
Tell us about your Community of Interest!
The East Side Union High School District has initiated the process of transitioning from at-large to district elections. As part of this process, the Board of Trustees want to hear from you on how these boundaries should be drawn. Complete this form to tell the Board of Trustees about your community of interest – keeping communities of interest together is a valued criteria in the districting process.
What is a Community of Interest?
A community of interest is a “contiguous population that shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.” They are the overlapping sets of neighborhoods, networks, and groups that share interests, views, cultures, histories, languages, and values and whose boundaries can be identified on a map. The following elements help define communities of interest:
- Shared interests in schools, housing, community safety, transit, health conditions, land use, environmental conditions, and/or other issues.
- Common social and civic networks, including churches, mosques, temples, homeowner associations, and community centers, and shared use of community spaces, like parks and shopping centers.
- Racial and ethnic compositions, cultural identities, and households that predominantly speak a language other than English.
- Similar socio-economic status, including but not limited to income, home-ownership, and education levels.
- Shared political boundary lines from other jurisdictions, such as school districts, community college districts, and water districts.
Please consider the following questions and criteria when considering your community of interest (for consideration only, no need to provide answers):
- Does your community have a shared culture, characteristics, or bond?
- Is your community geographic in nature? Is your community able to be mapped? Is there density within your community?
- Describe your community’s relationship with the District and how it is affected by policy decisions made by ESUHSD.
Submitted Community of Interest Forms
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ResolutionsTop of Page
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Resolution #2024/2025-28 Re: Intent to Initiate a Change of District's Election System from At-Large Trustee Elections to By-Trustee Area Elections in Single-Member Trustee Areas and Directing Superintendent to Retain Appropriate Consultants, Including Demographer and Community Outreach Consultants to Support the Board of Trustees In This ProcessAdopted April 8, 2025 (English | Spanish | Vietnamese)
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Map xxxx Resolution and Sequencing
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ContactTop of Page
Office of the Superintendent
830 N Capitol Avenue, San Jose CA 95133
redistricting@esuhsd.org