The Shelby County Public School Board met Tuesday in a special called working session to hear a presentation from KIPDAA regarding possibly redrawing school districts.
Due to the 2020 Census, populations have changed within Shelby County districts and redistribution will need to occur.
Striking a balance
The discussion, Harover said, was to talk about what needs to happen and think the direction they want to take.
“The school board is not under the same requirement as magistrates. They don’t need to be under a certain tolerance like magistrates, but they would like to try to balance as best they can to keep their districts as manageable as possible.”
For example, some areas are more rural and more spread out, some have clusters of population or are spread thin.
“This was a working session,” Harover said, and no decisions were made.
KIPDAA, Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency, will send the county clerk and school board members a map outlining Census data so they can make a decision later this year or early next year. The final decision will be by the school board, not the clerk’s office or KIPDAA.
Voting
Harover must know as early as possible to make sure there is as little disruption to voters as possible. School board representatives will be elected in 2024 within three districts. School board candidates don’t need to file until June 2024 for the General Election, as it is a nonpartisan race and doesn’t require a Primary.
“We’re dependent on KIPDAA and their numbers. They have maps and populations,” Harover said.
Numbers
KIPDAA presented 2020 Census population numbers of the school board districts.
District 1, Cline, 10,172
District 2, Blackburn, 10,264
District 3, Phillips, 9,399
District 4, Freels, 8,728
District 5, Jackson, 9,502
Follow up
The clerk expects a follow-up meeting in November or December to hear recommendations and to adjust lines as needed.
“I cautioned the board and told them my concerns about splitting precincts as little as possible. It will be similar to magisterial districts. I told them to make it as less complicated as you can for voters.” But no matter the districts drawn, it won’t be perfect, he said.
Also at the meeting:
Susan Barkley, CFO for SCPS, addressed the board about the school activities fund.
