header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


[KHTS] – Sulphur Springs Union School District officials agreed Wednesday to settle a lawsuit alleging a California Voting Rights Act violation with a remedy that includes districts, officials said after an hourlong closed session discussion during their governing board meeting.

The Santa Clarita Valley school district has agreed to be divided into five districts, officials said Wednesday.

“We have voted to reach an agreement to settle this suit,” said Kerry Clegg, board president for the Sulphur Springs School District, “for the best interests of our students and the fiscal health of our district.”

Kerry Clegg, school board president

Kerry Clegg, school board president

The vote was 5-0 to approve a no-fault settlement, he said.

“The district will have control over the demographer (who will decide the districts),” Klegg said, adding more details would be available in a statement from the district Thursday.

A source close to the lawsuit said a small list of approved demographers was offered to the district from the plaintiff’s attorneys.

Specific districts were not a part of the agreement reached, officials said.

Superintendent Robert Nolet said district staff were targeting the 2015 election cycle for the first one when changes would become effective.

“We’re still in the middle of the process,” Clegg added. The details were still being determined, Nolet said. Changing the month and year of the election was not part of the settlement.

Representatives from the Sulphur Springs Union School District met with the attorneys suing the Santa Clarita Valley school district over the alleged violations in February, according to court records.

The Feb. 18 meeting is when the terms of the deal were negotiated.

Malibu lawyer Kevin Shenkman

Malibu lawyer Kevin Shenkman

The closed session vote comes one day after the city of Santa Clarita made the move to settle a similar lawsuit, forgoing a legal fight that could have costs the city, “millions and millions of dollars or essentially the same result,” according to Santa Clarita City Councilman TimBen Boydston on Tuesday.

he city agreed to two basic changes in that deal: Santa Clarita ballots are set to change to cumulative voting, and the election will be moved from April 8 to the first Tuesday in November of the following even-numbered year.

One of the plaintiffs in that case, Rosemarie Sanchez-Fraser, is the sole plaintiff in this lawsuit, and is represented by the same attorneys.

When asked about the Feb. 18 negotiation, attorney Kevin Shenkman, who’s representing two plaintiffs in three lawsuits against local government agencies, praised attorneys from Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost, the Sulphur Springs School District counsel for the case.

“They really put the interests of he school district and its students first,” Shenkman said. “This resolution, and the settlement with the city of Santa Clarita, proves that there in an amicable and cost-effective way to resolve voting rights cases — a lesson that Palmdale has still failed to learn.”

 Klegg noted the fact that no California Voting Rights Act lawsuit had been successfully defended, in his statement out of closed session, regarding the decision to settle.

The two plaintiffs in the city’s case, Sanchez-Fraser and Jim Soliz, also have an a pending lawsuit against the Santa Clarita Community College District.

Palmdale city officials are currently appealing a loss in a similar suit with Shenkman & Hughes. The judge decided Palmdale should have districts as a remedy.

Shenkman filed his legal bills, according to court documents due within 60 days of an initial judgement, which are approximately $5 million split between three firms.

From an earlier article:

Santa Clarita Community College District officials were hit with a similar lawsuit as the city and the SSUSD around June 20.

The Sulphur Springs School District lawsuit alleges the district comprises a portion of the city of Santa Clarita with 56,256 residents, and 30.6 percent of the eligible voters in that district are Latino.

“The Latino population located within the SSSD is geographically concentrated, particularly in the pockets of the Newhall and Canyon Country neighborhoods,” according to the lawsuit.

Shenkman said his firm is representing the plaintiffs in all three suits and his firm is working with R. Rex Parris’ firm on the matters.

No attempts at mediation have been scheduled with the Santa Clarita Community College District, according to court records.

Bruce Fortine, a trustee for the College of the Canyons governing board, called the lawsuit “unfortunate,” and said while districting may make sense in some regions, it wouldn’t benefit the greater good for the Santa Clarita Valley.

Sanchez-Fraser, who’s vice president of the Santa Clarita Valley Democratic Club, said her involvement in activism after retiring from the nursing industry spurred her motivation for the lawsuit.

“The (SCV Democratic Club) is a small club, but it’s very much into education of the people here, so it filled a little niche that I needed,” said Sanchez-Fraser, who’s lived in the Santa Clarita Valley for almost 40 years. “And I thought, ‘You know, it’s true, we don’t have any representation for the Latinos, Mexicanos in our city, and they’re all over the place. We’re very visible but invisible.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


LOCAL SCHOOL LINKS
Related Content
LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
Monday, Mar 25, 2024
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, March 26, with closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by public session at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar 22, 2024
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, March 27, beginning with closed session at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by open session at 7 p.m.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
SCVNews.com