Chico Unified School District

Government entities across California, including the City of Chico, are transitioning to a new election system. Chico Unified School District Board of Education members are currently elected through an “at-large” election system, which means candidates for the Board of Education can reside anywhere in Chico Unified’s area of service and are elected by all registered voters that live within the Chico Unified School District boundaries.

Last year, in light of concerns regarding the existing at-large election system for the City Council of Chico, and based on in-depth information provided by the California School Boards Association (CSBA), and other sources, Chico Unified School District began exploring a move to “trustee area” elections (also called “district-based” elections). 

On February 19, 2020, the Board of Education adopted a Resolution of Intention to transition from at-large to district-based elections in order to conform to the California Voting Rights Act.  However, the Governor’s Emergency Order due to the COVID 19 pandemic created a delay in the process, and with the release of 2020 Census requiring updated trustee areas, the preparation and adoption of trustee area maps was postponed until Fall 2021.

Under Elections Code § 10010, the Board must hold two public hearings over a period of no more than 30 days before any map or maps of the boundaries for the proposed voting districts were drawn. The District’s demographers will use the input received at these meetings to prepare an initial set of draft Trustee Area Maps.  This public hearing will be the first of the two required hearings.

A recommendation is being brought forward to host the first of two public hearings on September 1, 2021 to receive input from the public regarding the composition of the trustee areas, with a second public hearing to be held on September 15, 2021.