Trustee Area Redistricting

The Kings Canyon Unified School District is governed by seven elected trustees who represent specific geographic areas known as trustee areas. Every 10 years, after new population data is released by the U.S. Census, school districts must evaluate and adjust their trustee area boundaries, as necessary, to equalize the population of the trustee areas. This assures equal representation for the residents of each trustee area on the district governing board. (Note: this process is also required at every level of government—federal, state, county, city, school districts and special districts).

Redistricting of the trustee areas must comply with federal and state law and should be carried out in a manner that, to the extent possible, provides for compact and contiguous trustee areas, includes easily identifiable boundaries, and maintains and respects communities of interest.

Redistricting is fundamental to maintaining fair representation in our democratic system of government. It assures that the population of the trustee areas is balanced and determines which geographic areas, neighborhoods and communities are grouped together for the purpose of electing school board trustees who represent the concerns and interests of residents in their trustee areas.

If you are interested in learning more about the process and would like to provide comments and input, we invite you to attend the presentation and public hearing. If you can’t attend the presentation and public hearing, information and additional opportunities for input will be posted on the District’s website at www.kcusd.com. You can email comments and questions to garza-a@kcusd.com or mail comments to Kings Canyon Unified School District, Attn: Aide Garza - Redistricting, 1502 I Street, Reedley, CA 93654.

Redistricting of the trustee areas must comply with federal and state law and should be carried out in a manner that, to the extent possible, provides for compact and contiguous trustee areas, includes easily identifiable boundaries, and maintains and respects communities of interest.

The trustee area boundaries should be adjusted such that the areas are nearly equal in population. “Nearly equal” means that the difference between the most- and least-populous trustee areas should not exceed 10% of the ideal trustee area population (the ideal trustee area population is one-seventh of the District’s total population). In addition, the federal Voting Rights Act prohibits election systems and practices that dilute the voting power of racial, ethnic and language minorities.

Communities of interest are areas where people share social and economic interests, such as

·        Identifiable neighborhoods and communities
·        Areas with similar racial and ethnic composition and cultural identities
·        Areas with common social and civic networks—schools, churches, homeowners associations, retirement communities

Keeping communities of interest together for representation is an important goal of redistricting.

The redistricting process will include:

·        A Board presentation and public hearing with opportunities for public input. The presentation will include a discussion of the redistricting process, the results of 2020 census data for the District and trustee areas, and the implications of the data on how the boundaries might need to be revised. The District’s demographic consultant, Odell Planning & Research, Inc., will provide information for the workshop.

·        The development of proposed maps that meet the requirements of the law and the redistricting criteria. These maps will be posted on this website for public review. The public is welcome to provide comments on the proposed maps and/or proposals for alternative map boundaries.

·        Board consideration of the proposed maps at a public hearing or hearings, and approval of the preferred map. It is anticipated that the Board will adopt a revised trustee area map in January 2022.

Your participation can include:

·        Attending the Board presentation and public hearing (Tuesday, December 14, 2021—see notice posted on this website) and providing comments.

·        Providing comments on the proposed maps and/or providing alternative map boundaries for consideration.

·        Attending the Board hearing(s) for consideration of proposed maps and expressing your opinions and recommendations.

You can email comments and questions to garza-a@kcusd.com or mail comments to Kings Canyon Unified School District, Attn: Aide Garza - Redistricting, 1502 I Street, Reedley, CA 93654.

The Board must adopt a revised trustee area boundary map no later than February 28, 2022. The revised boundary map will then be provided to the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters.