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 communityengagement@lvjusd.org.