Ed. Note: The following is a news release courtesy of the Saugus Union School District.

Saugus Union School District officials are planning to host several public meetings about the new trustee area voting system for the school district’s Governing Board.

On May 5, 2015, the Saugus Union School District Governing Board passed a resolution to change the way Board members are elected. Under the current trustee area system, all registered voters in the District’s boundaries can vote for candidates for Board member seats.

Previous Story: Saugus Union School District To Hold Public Hearing On Splitting Into Voting Districts

Under the new proposed system, candidates will be elected by “trustee areas.” That is, only voters within a given trustee area can vote for candidates who reside within the area. The intent of this proposed system is to offer greater opportunities for Board representation for candidates that might not otherwise by elected under an at-large system.

A move to this system requires the Board to hold public hearings on proposed trustee area boundaries/maps prior to asking the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization to approve the change. If the Committee approves the change, “by-trustee” area voting would be held starting with the November 2016 general election.

The dates, times and locations of the community meetings and public hearings are shown below. You are invited to attend any and all of the listed meetings/hearings. If you cannot attend a meeting/hearing and wish to review and/or comment on the proposed “trustee area” maps, printed copies of the maps will be available at school sites starting September 28. At that time, the maps will also be posted on the district website.

September 29 SUSD Board Meeting – Public Hearing – District Office

7:30 p.m. 24930 Avenue Stanford, Santa Clarita

October 14 Community Meeting – Tesoro del Valle Elementary

6:00-7:00 p.m. Multipurpose Room

29171 North Bernardo Way, Valencia

October 15 Community Meeting – Skyblue Mesa Elementary

6:00-7:00p.m. Multipurpose Room

28040 Hardesty Avenue, Canyon Country

October 21 Community Meeting – Emblem Academy

6:00-7:00 p.m.Library

22635 Espuella Drive, Saugus

November 3 SUSD Board Meeting – Public Hearing – District Office

7:30 p.m. 24930 Avenue Stanford,  Santa Clarita

November 17 SUSD Board Meeting – Vote on Trustee area maps – District Office

7:30 p.m. 24930 Avenue Stanford, Santa Clarita

You may email any comments or questions to Superintendent Joan Lucid at [email protected] or you may also comment by telephone at 661-294-5300. Ask for Pam Dall. We look forward to your participation.