Residents Can Try Hand at Redistricting Phoenix Union Wards with Online Mapping ToolResidents living in the Phoenix Union High School District boundaries will have a chance at redrawing the maps of its five single-member governing board districts or wards through the use of an online mapping program that is now available on the District’s website at http://www.phoenixunion.org/redistricting.
The online mapping tool allows individuals to draw and submit proposed maps that adhere to the key principles of redistricting--equal distribution of population and preserving minority voting representation-- in each of the five wards. Users can move precincts and neighborhoods from existing wards to create new ward boundaries, while the mapping program simultaneously updates the demographics of each ward.
According to Tony Sissons of Research Advisory Services, Inc., who is managing Phoenix Union’s redistricting process, online mapping by residents in other Arizona jurisdictions has produced maps that were ultimately adopted. “Using this cutting edge mapping technology, coupled with District Governing Board and Superintendent’s sincere desire to seek active resident input and engagement will ultimately produce a new map that is reflective of the community’s best collective interest,” said Sissons.
The online tool will be active until February 20 to gather additional community input into the redistricting process. Five community meetings, one in each ward, were held, January 18-25.
To complete the process by the required April 1 deadline, the following timetable has been developed:
Thurs., March 1, 6:30 p.m. - Research Advisory Services, Inc., with its collected community input, will present 4-5 alternative maps to the Governing Board at its regular monthly meeting.
Mon., March 5, 6:00 p.m. - Draft maps will be presented to the community at a public meeting for any and all interested residents to provide their input. Additional community input will be considered through March 22.
Tues., March 27, 6:00 p.m. - At a special Governing Board meeting, the Governing Board will adopt one final map, which will be submitted to the Department of Justice.
All meetings will be held at the PUHSD district office, 4502 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012
Based on 2010 census data, each ward should have an “ideal” total population size of 130,518. Currently Ward 1 in southwest Phoenix and Laveen, which experienced rapid growth in the last ten years, has 30 percent more residents than the targeted population, while three wards in the north and east of the school district have up to 13 percent less than the 130,000 mark. The new wards should also be geographically compact and connected.
The reapportioned wards will not be in effect until 2014, when the five single-district governing board terms end. The two at-large governing board seats will be determined in the 2012 election.
Source: Phoenix Union High School District
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