School Redistricting 2011-2012
Marisa Roseberry
Iowa Secretary of State’s Office
515-281-0145
Marisa.roseberry@sos.state.ia.us
Redistricting
 Occurs after every federal decennial census
 Jurisdictions review boundaries and district
populations to determine if they still meet the legal
requirements
 School boards of districts with director districts must
review their current district populations and
boundaries
[§275.23A]
Redistricting Timeline
Date
Event
April 19, 2011
Gov. Branstad signs into law the new congressional and
legislative redistricting plan
September 1, 2011
City precinct and ward boundary plans must be completed
October 15, 2011
County precinct and supervisor district boundary plans must
be completed
November 15, 2011
First day school boards may adopt resolutions redrawing
director district boundaries
January 15, 2012
City and county precinct, ward, and supervisor district
boundaries effective for elections held after this date
May 12, 2012
Deadline for school boards to adopt resolutions redrawing
director district boundaries
July 1, 2012
School director district boundaries are effective for elections
held after this date.
Drawing Director District Boundaries
 All director district must meet the following standards:
 Follow census block boundaries
 Follow precinct boundaries
 Composed of contiguous territory
 Exception: districts with marginally adjacent territory
 Compact as possible
[§275.23A(1)(a), 275.23A(1)(c)]
Drawing Director District Boundaries
 All director districts must meet the following standards:
 Meet ideal director district population standard
 Ideal director district population =
school district population ÷ number of director districts
 Cannot exceed maximum deviation of 10% between largest director
district and smallest director district
 largest district ÷ smallest district < 1.10
 Send justification if deviation is over 10%
 Plans will most likely be rejected by Secretary of State if deviation
is more than 10%
[§275.23A(1)(b), IAC 721—21.31(275)]
Drawing Director District Boundaries
 All director districts must meet the following
standards:
 Cannot divide cities
 Cities cannot be divided into multiple director districts unless the
population of the city (or portion of city in school district) is
greater than the ideal district population
 If so, divide into the smallest number of districts as possible
[§275.23A(1)(e)]
Drawing Director District Boundaries
 Cannot take into consideration:
 Addresses of incumbent school board members
 Political affiliations of registered voters
 Past election results
 Other demographic information beyond census head
counts
[§275.23A(1)(d)]
Census Data
 Use census data to draw boundaries
 Certified Census population of school district available
on SOS website:
www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/2010census.html
 Census block maps and census block population
spreadsheets are available on State Data Center’s
website: www.iowadatacenter.org/redistricting2010
 AEAs have contracted with University of Iowa to
redraw director district boundaries
Changing Method of Election or
Number of Directors
 Board may change method of election for directors
and/or the number of directors
 Must adopt resolution no earlier than November 15,
2011, and no later than May 15, 2012
 Must hold a public hearing before adopting the
resolution
[§275.23A(2)]
Changing Method of Election
1. All directors elected at-large by entire school district.
2. School district is divided into single director or multi-director districts. Directors
are elected at-large but directors must live in the single or multi-director districts.
3. School district is divided into single director or multi-director districts. No more
than one-half of the directors are elected at-large; remaining directors are
elected at-large but must live in the single or multi-director district.
4. School district is divided into single director or multi-director districts. Directors
are elected by director district and directors must live in the director district.
5. School district is divided into seven director districts. Three directors are elected
at-large, with no more than two elected at each regular school election. Four
directors must live in the director district and are elected by director district, with
no more than two elected at each regular school election.
[§275.12(2)]
Changing Number of Directors to 5 or 7
 If reducing to 5, resolution must include a plan for
reducing the number of directors
 Change effective at 2013 regular school election
 See §275.37A for details about the reduction
 If increasing to 7, change will be effective at 2013
regular school election
 Two additional directors elected
 One for a 2-year term, one for a 4-year term
 See §275.37 for details on how terms are assigned
Changing Method of Election or
Number of Directors
 Eligible electors may petition for a special election to
approve or disapprove of the board’s actions
 Petition filed with school secretary
 Deadline: 28th day following board’s actions
 Signature requirements: 30% of total voters at last
regular school election or 100, whichever is greater
[§275.23A(2)]
Changing Method of Election or
Number of Directors
 If petition is filed, board may rescind its action or
submit question at a special election
 If approved at a special election, board must certify
results to Department of Management and may
continue with its plan
 If not approved, method of election and/or number of
directors cannot change
 If no petition is filed, board must certify action to
Department of Management and may continue with
its plan
[§275.23A(2)]
Plan Submission
 Director district boundaries must be defined by
resolution
 Board adopts no earlier than November 15, 2011 and no
later than May 15, 2012
 All districts with director districts must file plans with
Secretary of State, even if changes are not made
 Plans must be postmarked by May 15, 2012 to SOS
 If changed method of election or number of directors,
wait until petition period has expired before submitting
plans
Plan Submission
 What to send to SOS
 School redistricting worksheet
 Map showing director district boundaries
 Resolution describing director district boundaries,
number of directors, method of election (if changed)
 Must include date it was adopted
 Can submit by mail or electronically
 Electronic submission:
www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/redistrictreprecinct/index
.html
Plan Submission
 Pay attention to:
 District population listed matches Census population
 Director district populations add to total district population
 Director district boundaries follow census blocks
 Description of director district boundaries in resolution
match map
 Round up when calculating ideal population and
variation
Plan Submission
 SOS will make every effort to review plans within 2
weeks after submission
 Best practice: Submit early!
 If SOS determines a school board failed to make the
required changes by May 15, 2012, SOS must make or
ensure the necessary changes are made.
 School district will be assessed the cost to make the
changes.
[§275.23A(3)]
After Plan Approval
 File copy of the plan with the county auditor(s) and
AEA administrator
 Changes effective July 1, 2012
[§275.23(A)(2), 275.23(A)(3)]
Holdover Director Districts
 What happens if more than one incumbent director
lives in the same director district after redistricting?
 Their terms will expire at the first regular meeting of the
board after the canvass of votes for the 2013 regular
school election
 Seat must appear on the ballot at 2013 regular school
election
[§275.23A(4)]
Holdover Director Districts
Example: School District SOS has 5 directors elected by district.
 2013 Regular School Election: districts 1, 3, and 5
 2015 Regular School Election: districts 2 and 4
After redistricting, directors in 1 and 2 now live in 1.
 Both terms will expire in 2013 and go on 2013 ballot.
 District 1 for a regular 4-year term
 District 2 for a 2-year term
If the director in the old 2 wants to continue to still be on school
board and not move, must run for district 1 for the 4-year term
If the director in the old 2 wants to continue to still be on the
school board in the new district 2, must move to 2 for a 2-year
term.
Holdover Director Districts
 Exception: At-large seats will be elected as scheduled.
 Applies to school districts with mixed representation
plans.
 Not a holdover district problem with at-large director
seats because those elected to those seats can live
anywhere in the school district
[§275.23A(4)]
Can the public challenge the director
district boundaries?
 No. No formal legal process exists for challenging
director district boundaries.
 Can petition for special election if change method of
election or number of directors