Schools
Racial, Socioeconomic Makeup Of LEUSD Board May Change
The State Board of Education is considering a proposal by the LEUSD to change the way its governing board members are elected. The move is designed to better represent the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups across the district.
How voters decide who should sit on the Lake Elsinore Unified School District governing board is now in the state’s hands.
The State Board of Education is considering a request by the district to change from holding “at-large” elections to holding elections by “trustee areas.”
Under the current system of at-large elections, registered voters within the LEUSD boundaries cast ballots, collectively, to decide who should sit on the board.
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Under the proposed “by-trustee-area elections,” the LEUSD district will be split into five zones – each one represented by a governing board member elected by voters within that specific zone. The attached map shows the proposed five zones. National Demographics Corporation was hired by the district to study and present trustee-area boundary options.
The move to elections by trustee areas is expected to significantly diminish the LEUSD’s exposure to a costly legal battle. Dozens of California school districts that currently hold at-large elections have been targeted by lawsuits as a result of the California Voting Rights Act, California Elections Code sections 14025-14032, enacted in 2002.
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Under the CVRA, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups are finding it easier to challenge at-large elections that may leave some minority constituents underrepresented.
During a Feb. 16 special meeting at the LEUSD main office, the Riverside County Committee on School District Organization voted unanimously to approve the LEUSD’s request to move to elections by trustee areas. During the meeting, committee members Mike McKelroy, Charlotte Jones, and Cleveland CJ Johnson were absent.
The county committee is an independent, 11-member body. Its members are elected to four-year terms by representatives of Riverside County school district governing boards.
LEUSD governing board members up for reelection this year include Sue Scott and Jeanie Corral.
Click here to see all the LEUSD governing board members.
During the Feb. 16 meeting, Corral spoke against elections by trustee areas; LEUSD board member Tom Thomas spoke in favor.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
