Listen Up! Board Director Boundaries Are to Change (and Soon)!

I was aware that, by law, the boundaries for DIRECTOR regions (not schools), had to be examine after the Census occurred. Indeed, at the last Board meeting, Director Chandra Hampson, in talking about the upcoming Executive Committee meeting, mention that this would be the first time there would be scenario maps available.

This will be a two-part post as I want to put all the maps up on my computer, side by side, as well as the current boundaries map to get a good visual. The one thing I can see upfront is that if you live in the Central district, boy, you'll be on easy street with the fewer number of schools in your district. Meanwhile, in the SW and SE, you'll have twice the distance and twice the schools to cover. 

I tried - for nearly the entire week - to get this documentation but, unlike previous times, the Board office was not responsive. I see Director Vivian Song Maritz just put up this information yesterday. My impression is that the Board is CLEARLY not interested in receiving input. Why do I think that?

 1) The deadline is Nov. 15 under state law based on Census 2020 population counts. The Board knew this was coming and yet ONLY now has released this documentation. This means the public gets one month to give input (September 28th-October 26th). But as well all know, the Board is trying to consolidate work so ARE they going to actually take input AND consider it for a month? I doubt it.

2) However, at the Board meeting next week, the Board will pick a preferred scenario.  Well geez, if they are already picking a favorite, why do they want input from anyone?

Here's the link to the BAR (Board Action Report). 

Feedback page 

Current director boundaries

o Presentation Materials
o Presentation Recording

In the Presentation Materials, here are the map pages. The company that the Board used provided both a senario page and an overlay page of the current boundaries relevant to that scenario. The pages are:

- Scenario 1- page 7

- Scenario 1 overlay - page 12

-  Scenario 2 - page 13

-  Scenario 2 overlay - page 18

- Scenario 3 - -page 19

- Scenario 3 overlay - page 24

Timetable

Consistent with the requirements of state law, the district is utilizing the following information-
sharing and community engagement strategies for the development of the redistricting plan:


• August 24, 2022 Executive Committee Meeting: Briefing on redistricting process for
the Board’s Executive Committee
• August 31, 2022 Regular Board Meeting: Presentation on redistricting process by FLO
Analytics

• September 21, 2022 Executive Committee Meeting: Committee considers Board
Action Report to send draft redistricting plan to the full Board
• September 21, 2022: Draft redistricting plan posted online for written public comment
through Let’s Talk.
• September 28, 2022 Regular Board Meeting: Board Action Report for redistricting
plan introduced to the Board and public comment taken remotely and in-person through a
public hearing.
• October 2022: Redistricting plan, if revised, to be posted online for additional written
public comment through Let’s Talk.
• October 26, 2022 Regular Board Meeting: Board considers action on final redistricting
plan and with additional public comment taken remotely and in-person

Comments

Anonymous said…
Here's a link that works to the presentation materials:
https://seattleschools.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/SPSBoardOffice-O365/EVXbxx_e8DFIruZG_XHrEikBLMsLAx9cE0k_h3KBMFk7Ag?e=kx1hxE

And the Board Action Report (BAR):
https://seattleschools.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/SPSBoardOffice-O365/Ee6tk780PVROgTsDSwrmF2YB29HLJ99wbabkRxdbdRbjfQ?e=UzqzWD

These Sharepoint links seem to prevent sharing...

Public Data
9/24/22, 12:23 PM
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