California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) 

2 years ago

Transitioning from At-Large Trustee Areas to By-Trustee Areas

Updated February 24, 2022

Many cities, school districts, and other public entities have had their election systems challenged under the CVRA, leading to very expensive and divisive litigation.  The move to by- trustee area elections enabled us to move forward without the potential of having to defend CVRA litigation in the future. 

District staff and the Board of Education are committed to continuing to focus on all students at all school sites to ensure a quality education for our students.  The change in the election system did not change the decision-making process for the Board of Education. Each trustee will continue to make decisions in the best interest of the entire district regardless of the trustee area.

In the fall of October 2016, the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District (YCJUSD) began the process of this transition (see timeline below). The transition process was completed in March 2018 with approval from the State Board of Education. The first YCJUSD by-trustee area election was held in November 2018 for Trustee Areas 4 and 5. While in November 2020, Trustee Areas 1, 2, and 3 were up for election.

After the 2020 census, the trustee area process entered a new phase that required a decennial review of the five trustee areas.  The review was completed and a new map was adopted by the Board of Education on February 22nd, 2022.  The timeline of events can be viewed at Trustee Area Review Website 2022.


Process and Timeline of Transitioning to By-Trustee Areas

October 25, 2016

Board Workshop

The Board of Education listened to a presentation about the CRVA by an attorney from the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

December 13, 2016

Board Meeting

The Board of Education adopted Resolution R-16/2016-17 initiating the process of establishing trustee areas and elections by-trustee areas

February 28, 2017

Board Meeting

The Board of Education listened to a presentation by an attorney from the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo on the process and next steps for the District to transition to a by-trustee area

April 25, 2017

Board Meeting

1st public hearing held regarding composition of maps for trustee area elections


May 23, 2017

Board Meeting

2nd public hearing held regarding composition of maps for trustee area elections

June 2017

Trustee area mapping prepared by Cooperative Strategies

June 27, 2017

Board Meeting

 

Public presentation of 3 proposed trustee area maps (see below) created by Cooperative Strategies with demographic information and potential sequence of elections to show how the staggered terms will impact individual trustee areas.

August 2017

 

Information on CRVA, the transition to by-trustee area elections, and 3 proposed trustee maps posted on District website

September/October, 2017

Superintendent spoke to service clubs, city councils, bargaining units, PTA, DELAC, DAC, Community Cabinet regarding by-trustee area elections, proposed maps, and waiver of election requirement for transition to by-trustee area elections

October 2, 2017

October 17, 2017

Community informational meetings held at Yucaipa High School and the District Education Center

October 3, 2017 &

October 26, 2017

Board Meetings

Conducted 2 public hearings to gather input on proposed maps and election sequencing. No revisions made.

November 7, 2017

Board Meeting

Adopted by-trustee area election map Scenario 3 and Resolution  R-6/2017-18 requesting that the County Committee on School District Organization approve the transition from an at-large election process to by-trustee area election process.

December 12, 2017

Board Meeting

Public hearing held and the Board of Education adopted Resolution R-8/2017-18 authorizing request for State Board of Education waiver

December 20, 2017

County Committee on School District Organization held a public hearing and took action to approve and establish trustee areas, Resolution 20171220

 

January 2018

A waiver request was submitted to the State Board of Education (SBE) in Sacramento to waive the requirement that the establishment of trustee areas and adoption of a by-trustee area election process be submitted to the electors as set forth in Education Code 5019 and 5020.   

March 15, 2018

The State Board of Education approved the waiver.  The District will have a by-trustee area election method in place for the next election in November 2018.