A map that creates trustee areas in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) for the 2020 election was approved by a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge on March 6, ending litigation that sought to change the way members of the Board of Education are elected and implementing new procedures for future elections.

The trustee area map that has now been approved by the court is a result of negotiations between the plaintiff and the District and takes into consideration input received from the public at numerous public hearings. Trustee area boundaries do not affect the District’s school attendance boundaries.

Under the terms of the court-approved agreement, voters in WCCUSD will elect members to the Board of Education by geographic area beginning in 2020 and have trustee area boundaries drawn and approved by an independent commission beginning with the 2022 election. 

The court’s action further implements a decision previously announced by the Board of Education to use an independent commission to draw and approve trustee area maps beginning with the 2022 election. The independent commission will be composed of seven members appointed by a retired judge who is to be selected by the attorneys for the plaintiff and District. The independent commission is a process that is newly available to school districts under California Elections Code sections 23000 - 23003.