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Meeting Date:
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5/31/2018 - 7:00 PM
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Category:
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Discussion Topics
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Type:
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Info
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Subject:
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School Board Election Cycle, Terms and Composition - attachments posted 5/28/18
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ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
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Objective 1.10 Civic Engagement and Civic Responsibility ACPS will engage with its students in an atmosphere conducive to mutual respect, civic engagement, and good citizenship.
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Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
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File Attachment:
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Agenda Item Summary:
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At its April 26, 2018 Board Meeting, the School Board discussed the background, current status, legal authority, process and timing for potentially transitioning:
• From concurrent to staggered Board Member terms of office, and therefore;
• From holding concurrent elections every three years to holding staggered elections more frequently;
• From three-year terms to four-year terms;
• From a nine-Member Board to a lesser number; and
• From representation based solely on Alexandria’s three voting districts, to the addition of one at-large Board Member.
Any changes to the School Board’s term, election cycle, and/or composition would necessitate the Virginia General Assembly’s approval of an amendment to the Alexandria City Charter. As the Code of Virginia requires that the School Board’s and City Council’s terms of office and election cycles must coincide, such amendments would affect both of Alexandria’s elected bodies. This would necessitate embarking on a community engagement and public comment process that would likely include such feedback instruments as surveys, public hearings, or a citywide referendum. To open a dialogue with Council and the public on the benefits and impacts of various transition options, the School Board requested a draft resolution to serve as a starting point to which the interested parties could react (attached).
In addition, the Board requested information on the following topics:
1. Are there school boards that have a combination of appointed and elected members?
2. Could a voter referendum coinciding with November elections be held to determine whether there is support for changing the City Council’s and the School Board’s election cycles, terms of office or composition? (Regarding composition, only the School Board’s is being discussed. Changing the composition of the Board would not impact the composition of City Council.)
3. How do tie votes on even-numbered boards work?
4. How many city school boards have the district representation/at-large hybrid model of board member representation?
5. Can Student Representatives to the School Board vote or serve as tie breakers?
6. How would adding an at-large Alexandria City School Board Member work? Which candidates run for their district and which run for the at-large seat?
7. When city school boards that changed from one election cycle or representation model to another transitioned, did they break into smaller wards/districts/precincts to ensure a finer demographic representation across the city?
8. When the Alexandria City School Board transitioned from an appointed Board to an elected one, which approaches to breaking into smaller districts were considered?
9. Potential Staggered Election Implementation Scenarios : Maintain Three Year Terms
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Background:
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By reviewing current requirements and procedures for operational effectiveness and efficiency, the Board ensures its practices align with ACPS 2020 Strategic Plan goals to support excellence and continuous improvement.
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Recommendation:
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The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the attached information on Board election cycles and composition.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Final-Clerk of the Board - Proxy
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