On November 5, 2019, the Board of Trustees approved a District Area Map for District Elections.

Novato Unified School District’s first District Election took place on November 3, 2020 for District Areas 1, 2, 3, and 7.

Starting with the November 2020 election, the District moved from an “at-large” election system to a “by-trustee area” election system to elect members of the Board of Trustees. Voters now elect District trustees based on the specific area in which the voter lives.

The United States Census Bureau recently released data from the 2020 Census. The release of this data triggers the need to re-draw, the trustee areas based on population changes.

The Board undertook this process during its meetings on January 25, 2022 and February 8, 2022. The Board reviewed adjustments proposed by its demographer, sought public comment on the adjustments, and then adopted adjusted boundaries.

You can find more information about the process and the 2020 Census data by reviewing the November 2, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda. The agenda topic is #13a under Discussion/Action: Approval of Redistricting Analysis Based on 2020 Census

To view the drafts of the proposed Trustee Area maps, please see the January 25, 2022 Regular Board Meeting Agenda. The agenda topic is #11b under Presentation: Potential Trustee Area Revisions Due to 2020 Census Data.

Revised Scenario maps were presented for Board Approval at the February 8, 2022 Regular Board Meeting. The agenda is #13a under Discussion/Action: Approval of Trustee Area Revisions Due to 2020 Census Data.

On February 8, 2022, the Board of Trustees approved a revised District Area Map for District Elections due to 2020 Census data. The revised map was submitted to the County of Marin for future elections. The approved Resolution with the revised District Area Map may be found here: Resolution No.17-2021/22-Adopting Revised Trustee Areas (2.8.22)

March 21, 2019 Special Board Meeting – Adopted Resolution No. 24-2018-19 to initiate the process of establishing trustee areas and elections by district to transition from at-large elections to district elections.

April 2, 2019 Board Meeting – Discussion on District Election Process.  Presentation by David Soldani, legal counsel from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, and Rudd & Romo.

April 23, 2019 Board Meeting – Discussion on changing the number of Trustees from seven (7) to five (5).

May 7, 2019 Board Meeting – Public Hearing #1 at 7:25 pm to hear input from the community about district elections and changing trustees from seven (7) to five (5) and hear demographers initial report.

May 21, 2019 Board Meeting – Public Hearing #2 at 7:10 pm to hear input from the community about district elections and Discussion/Action on Resolution regarding the criteria to guide the creation of Trustee areas.

August 28, 2019 – District posts and distributes information on draft trustee areas maps created by demographer based on community input.

September 3, 2019 Board Meeting – Public Hearing #3 at 7:00 pm to hear input from the community on the draft trustee area maps.

September 10, 2019 – Two Public Input Sessions at the District Office (Board Room):  1-2 pm and 6-7 pm

October 15, 2019 – Public Hearing #4 at 7:00 pm to hear input from the community on the draft trustee area maps.

November 5, 2019 – Approval of final map.

RESOLUTION NO. 24 – 2018-2019

RESOLUTION INITIATING PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING TRUSTEE AREAS AND
ELECTIONS BY-TRUSTEE AREAS

WHEREAS, the Novato Unified School District (“District”) currently uses an at-large system of electing the members of its Board of Education; and

WHEREAS, the Board is aware that under state law an at-large method of election may be deemed to impair the ability of some voters to elect candidates of their choice or to influence the outcome of elections and, therefore, may be subject to challenge under the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, California Elections Code § 14025, et seq. (“CVRA”); and

WHEREAS, the District has decided to initiate the process of establishing trustee areas and changing the method of electing members of the Board, in order to ensure compliance with the CVRA or, at minimum, avoid the potential for costly litigation under the CVRA; and

WHEREAS, Board intends to initiate a very deliberate, careful, and public process for establishing trustee areas, and for changing the method of electing members of the Board, to take effect commencing with the November, 2020 election.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board hereby finds the foregoing recitals to be true and correct; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board directs the Superintendent or his designee to immediately initiate the legal and regulatory process to establish trustee areas within the District, as provided in Education Code section 5019, in sufficient time for trustee areas to be established for the November, 2020 election of members of the Board; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board directs the Superintendent or his designee to collaborate with a demographer, to prepare draft by-trustee area map scenarios for review and input by the Board and members of the public at upcoming meetings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board directs the Superintendent or his designee to initiate the legal and regulatory process of changing the method of electing members of the Board, from the current at-large system whereby each member of the Board is elected by the registered voters of the entire District (Education Code section 5030(a)), to a method which provides that Board members residing in each trustee area will be elected by the registered voters of that particular trustee area (Education Code 5030(b)), in sufficient time for the new method of electing members of the Board to be in place for the November, 2020 election; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board directs the Superintendent or his designee to initiate processes for establishing trustee areas and changing the method of electing members of the Board that are inclusive, thoughtful, and public, providing for and encouraging significant input on the issues the Board and Marin County Committee on School District Organization will address from all interested citizens and interest groups; and

BE IT FURTHER AND FINALLY RESOLVED that the Superintendent or his designee is authorized to initiate the legal and regulatory process to seek a waiver from the State Board of Education, of the requirements of Education Code section 5020 and related statutes, so that action of the Marin County Committee on School District Organization establishing trustee election areas and adopting one of the alternative methods of electing Board members specified in Education Code section 5030 does not constitute an order of election.

Click here to view signed resolution.