TO: William S. Hart Union High School District Stakeholders

FROM: Superintendent Robert Challinor

DATE: October 29, 2014

SUBJECT: General Waiver Request to State Board of Education

On July 16, 2014, the District’s Governing Board adopted a resolution to initiate the transition from an “at-large” to a “by-trustee area” election system for the election of Governing Board members beginning in 2015. Such a step was taken in order to remove any potential District liability under the California Voting Rights Act (Act). Additionally, the decision was made in the interests of fiscal responsibility due to the fact that a claim under the Act can expose the District to significant attorneys’ fees.

In Resolution No. 14/15-7, the Board included a statement of intent to seek a waiver of certain requirements from the State Board of Education. Specifically, the District plans to seek a waiver of Education Code Section 5020 and portions of Sections 5019, 5021, and 5030, pertaining to the requirement that a proposal to change to a by-trustee area system be submitted to a vote of the electorate once approved by the local county committee on school district organization. Not only will obtaining a waiver from the ballot requirement save the District costs associated with placing the item on the ballot, but the waiver also ensures the implementation of the new voting system for the 2015 elections, thus making sure the District is in compliance with the Act as quickly as possible.

With this correspondence, the District seeks to inform stakeholders regarding its proposal to submit a General Waiver Request to the State Board of Education and receive feedback should anyone have any comments or objections. In order to allow for the timely consideration of any comments, please submit any comments to my attention no later than November 5, 2014.

Also, please be advised that public comments regarding the waiver request can be made during the regular Governing Board meeting scheduled for November 5, 2014. Adoption of a resolution authorizing the submission of the waiver request is scheduled for Board consideration during this meeting. The Governing Board meeting will be held at the Administrative Center located at 21380 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA, beginning at 7:00 PM. As always, your attendance at any Governing Board meeting is welcomed.

Thank you in advance for your careful consideration of this issue and I welcome the opportunity to sit down and address any comments or concerns. As I have stated in my recent message, we are committed to receiving public comments and feedback on the District’s transition to a by-trustee area election system and making sure that despite a new election system, the interests and needs of all students and staff continue to be met.