LVJUSD Takes Steps to Transition to By-Trustee Area School Board Elections

For Immediate Release

LVJUSD Takes Steps to Transition to By-Trustee Area School Board Elections

October 3, 2024 - Livermore, CA - At the October 1, 2024 Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
(LVJUSD) Board meeting, current Board trustees unanimously approved a resolution to begin the process of
transitioning from at-large school board elections to by-trustee area elections starting in 2026. On behalf of the
Board, President Emily Prusso shared, “We [the Board] are committed to maintaining an attitude of fairness and
representation across our entire district. It is important to us that this change does not divide us, but rather
strengthens our differences.”

Under the current at-large system, school board members are elected by voters from the entire district. A transition
to by-trustee area elections will require the determination of distinct geographic areas, each with its own
representative elected by voters from within that area. Key benefits to by-trustee area elections include:
● Enhanced Representation: Each neighborhood or area within the district will have a dedicated
representative, ensuring that the diverse voices of the community are reflected on the school board.
● Increased Accountability: Board members will be more directly accountable to the constituents in their
specific district, allowing for more focused and localized attention.
● Greater Engagement: With representatives drawn from specific areas, residents may feel more connected
and involved in the decision-making process, fostering a stronger sense of community involvement.

“We realize this is a considerable change from how we have historically elected board members, however, it is not
dissimilar to what many other public agencies and neighboring school districts have shifted to over the last several
years to better align with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). We are committed to providing our community
with comprehensive information about the process and engaging their input and feedback along the way,”
expressed Superintendent Torie Gibson.

Trustee-area maps will be created in order to establish clearly outlined areas for voting purposes. LVJUSD has
selected a demographer who will use the most recent census data from 2020 to create draft maps that, by law, have
relatively equal populations for each area. Community members will have several opportunities to provide input
and feedback throughout the process, including five local public hearings. The adopted map will then be presented
to the County Committee on School District Organization for final approval. All local public hearings will take
place in the LVJUSD Board Room at 685 E. Jack London Boulevard; dates and times are listed below and have
been posted to the LVJUSD website.

Public Feedback Opportunities:
Pre-Map Public Hearing 1: October 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Pre-Map Public Hearing 2: October 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Map Consideration Hearing 1: November 7 at 9:30 a.m.
Map Consideration Hearing 2: November 18 at 5:30 p.m.
Public Hearing and Adoption of Trustee Area Map: December 10 at 7:00 p.m.
County Committee on School District Organization Hearing: TBD (within 60 days of map adoption)
Additional information and updates can be found on the LVJUSD website. Questions or comments can be directed
to the superintendent’s office by calling (925) 606-3281 or by emailing [email protected].

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ABOUT LIVERMORE VALLEY JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
LVJUSD is an award-winning district that serves more than 13,000 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade at
nine elementary campuses, two TK-8 schools, three middle schools, two comprehensive high schools, and two alternative
schools. The LVJUSD features International Baccalaureate Programmes, a Dual Immersion Program, and a STEM pathway,
TK-12. The mission of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District is to ensure each student will graduate with the
skills needed to contribute and thrive in a changing world. For more information about the Livermore Valley Joint Unified
School District, please visit www.livermoreschools.org

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
School Board President Emily Prusso, [email protected] (925) 606-3281
Superintendent of Schools Torie Gibson, Ed.D., [email protected] (925) 606-3281
Coordinator of Community Engagement Michelle Dawson, [email protected] (925) 960-2917