The School Board of Broward County has begun the process for preparing a new Broward County School Board district map based upon the recently released 2010 U.S. Census data. Redistricting is the process of redrawing the lines of districts from which public officials are elected so that the populations are as equal as practicable within the newly formed districts. The goal of this process is to ensure that residents have equal representation on the School Board.

THE REVISIONS WILL NOT CHANGE WHICH SCHOOLS STUDENTS ATTEND, NOR WILL IT CHANGE BUS STOPS OR THE AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOLS.

You can learn how to use MyDistrictBuilder here:
http://mydistrictbuilder.wordpress.com/learnmydistrictbuilder/

The KMZ file is used as a starting point to create new districts within MyDistrictBuilder. MyDistrictBuilder documentation states that you must create two more districts than actually needed. In this case nine districts must be created. What you are seeing on the screen are districts 8 and 9. Please note that these do not correspond to School Board member districts 8 and 9, but are districts only used to define the boundaries of where you will be creating your districts. District 8 is comprised of the 4 counties adjacent to Broward County. This sets an “out-of-bounds” zone. District 9 is Broward County. This sets the zone in which you will make the 7 actual districts. Please follow the documentation from the Web site for creating new School Board member districts using MyDistrictBuilder. The current School Board member districts can be found by downloading and viewing the maps found on the Map Alternatives Web page.

You may submit your map in either format, however, the KMZ file format is preferred.

The 2010 U.S. Census data by Voter Tabulated District is used for single School Board member redistricting.

The 2010 U.S. Census data is aggregated by whole Voter Tabulated District only.

Broward County School Board resolution #12-32 states that the Redistricting Steering Committee will recommend any necessary or desirable changes to the boundaries of the School Board districts based on the 2010 census. The 2010 Census Redistricting Data is expressed in data Tables P1 and P2 representing total population, not voting age population.

The individual race categories within the table add up to equal to the total population that is not Hispanic. When combined with the total population that is Hispanic, you will have 100% of the population of Broward County.

In accordance with Florida State Law (F.S. 1001.36), the School Board may change as necessary the boundaries of any district School Board member at any regularly scheduled meeting, provided that such changes:

1. Are drawn so that their populations are as close to being equal as possible;
2. Are approved by the School Board in an odd numbered year;
3. Would not disqualify serving School Board members for the term in which they were elected should a change affect their residency qualifications, and;
4. Retain seven single School Board member districts represented by members whom are elected from the district in which they reside. Two additional School Board members are elected to represent the county at-large for a total of a nine School Board members.
   

The public is encouraged to attend any or all of seven public meetings that will be held throughout the county. The public is also encouraged to become involved in the proposal development process. For more information on meeting times and locations, and on how to develop a proposal, please visit the School Board's redistricting Web site at:
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/redistricting

There are several ways to participate and have your voice heard in the redistricting process. The Redistricting Steering Committee will receive your comments when you provide them at any of the public hearings held throughout the county. Additionaly, comments entered from the comments section of the redistricting Web site or received by email to redistricting@browardschools.com will be shared with the committee prior to each public hearing.

All School Board member districts must be within five percent of the District average therefore all districts must be drawn to meet this requirement and the map to be accepted.

The Redistricting Steering Committee is comprised of 19 volunteer members selected by the School Board Members and the Superintendent. Each School Board member selected two (2) representatives and the Superintendent selected one (1) representative to avoid split committee direction. The Redistricting steering committee’s function is to listen to public input at meetings and aid in draft single School Board member redistricting proposal development.