Bill > A05048

This bill authorizes boards of education in union free and central school districts located entirely or partially in Orange County to establish school election wards, which are geographic subdivisions used for electing school board members or trustees. Under the proposed law, districts can create between three to nine wards (for union free districts) or five to nine wards (for central school districts), with one representative elected from each ward by qualified voters residing in that specific ward. The bill requires a mandatory referendum and mandates that the board of education conduct at least three public hearings before establishing these wards, with careful consideration of potential historic disenfranchisement or discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation. The ward boundaries must be contiguous, contain roughly equal populations, align with school attendance zones, and preserve communities of interest. The resolution must include provisions for nominating petitions, and the initial implementation would result in staggered terms for board members. The bill also provides a mechanism for revisiting ward boundaries after each federal census and allows districts to return to at-large voting through another referendum if desired. Importantly, this legislation applies specifically to school districts in Orange County and provides a structured process for more localized representation in school board elections.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5048