Public Hearings to be Conducted Regarding the Adjustment of Trustee Area Boundaries on September 18, September 28 and October 9

Newport-Mesa Unified School District will conduct three public hearings for the Board of Education to receive public comments specifically related to the two proposed trustee area boundary map options “B” and “G”. Trustee areas are specific boundaries within the school district that each Board of Education Member is elected to represent. Trustee boundaries are separate from school attendance boundaries and any changes to trustee area boundaries will not change or impact a student’s home school. Students’ home school will remain the same.

Two trustee area boundary maps, “B” and “G” are currently under consideration. Please visit the Trustee Area Boundary Adjustment webpage for more information, including proposed maps and analysis reports.

Upcoming Public Hearings:

You are invited to attend the following public hearings to provide public comments specifically related to the two proposed trustee area boundary map options.

*Please note that the District may adjourn earlier than 8 p.m. after accepting all comments, commencing
at 6 p.m.

September 18, 2017*

6:00 p.m.

Newport Harbor High School Theater

600 Irvine Avenue

Newport Beach, CA 92663

September 28, 2017*

6:00 p.m.

Costa Mesa High School

Theater

2650 Fairview Road

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Transportation to the public hearing at Costa Mesa High School will be provided from the Rea Elementary School parking lot at 5:30 p.m. and will return at the conclusion of the public hearing.

October 9, 2017*

6:00 p.m.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District Boardroom

2985 Bear Street

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Public Hearing Format:

• The public hearings are formal Board of Education meetings and will be video recorded.
• The two maps (“Map B” and “Map G”) will be on display, as well as the analysis reports for each map.
• Public comments will be received verbally or in writing.
• Spanish interpreters will be available at each public hearing.

Background:

Newport-Mesa Unified School District has seven Board of Education members who are currently elected through an at-large voting system. An at-large voting system means that each member is elected by the entire school district voting population, but is required to reside in a particular trustee area. This is authorized by Education Code section 5030.

In a separate but related topic to boundary adjustments, in February 2017 the Board of Education initiated the change to elections by trustee area, commencing with the November 2018 elections. Elections by trustee area means that members will be elected by the specific trustee area that they represent, as opposed to the entire school district voting population (as is currently the process).

Due to the extensive population growth on the east side of the district, the superintendent convened a committee to review trustee areas. The committee, with the assistance of a demographer, was tasked with balancing the seven trustee areas to each have proportionate population and take into consideration traditional redistricting principles, such as trustee areas should be compact and contiguous; should consider communities of interest; should consider man-made and natural geographic features; and should continue with at least one majority-minority trustee area. The committee created proposed trustee area boundary map B.

The District conducted two initial public meetings in March 2017 to review trustee area boundaries and receive public input.

At its April 18, 2017 meeting, the Board of Education conducted a study session to receive and consider information related to the boundary adjustment. The Board directed the demographer to prepare additional draft maps for consideration. Map G was a result of public input and direction form the Board.

In its August 22, 2017 meeting, the Board of Education voted to conduct three public hearings to receive community input on maps B and G (meeting details are noted above).

Next Steps:

The Board of Education is expected to take action on the proposed trustee area boundary maps at a future Board of Education meeting.

Please visit the Trustee Area Boundary Adjustment webpage for more information, including current and proposed maps, and map analysis reports.