The Riverbank Unified School District (RUSD) is moving from at-large to trustee area elections and there were discussions about moving from odd to even year elections at the board meeting earlier this month. On Tuesday, Sept. 16 another board meeting took place to further discuss consideration of adopting new trustee boundary areas.

In the statement of purpose on the agenda for the Sept. 16 board meeting submitted by RUSD Superintendent Daryl Camp, “Riverbank Unified joins several California school districts in moving to trustee area elections. The impetus to move away from at-large elections for school districts and some cities is the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) that was enacted in 2002. The CVRA authorizes voters of any race the right to sue for an alternate election system, usually requiring the agency to change from at-large elections to trustee area elections. The CVRA is intended to provide more protection and representation for underrepresented minority groups.”

On Nov. 5, 2013 Resolution No. 13-14-08 was adopted by the school board in a four to one vote to change the method of electing members of the District’s Board of Trustees from “at-large elections” to “by-trustee elections” but amends the application so that the change can be implemented in the election cycles scheduled in 2015 and 2017 and submitted a proposed trustee area boundary line.

Board members Susan Taylor, Suzanne Dean, and Elizabeth Meza were each elected to a four year at-large term in the November 2013 election and their terms will expire in 2017.

Ana Vigil and Connie Gilbert, newly appointed board members, were appointed as at-large trustees to the board in the spring of 2014 and their term will expire in 2015.

For more information visit the RUSD website at www.riverbank.k12.ca.us for the board agenda and highlights.