The 2020 Census data indicates that School Board Member Districts have grown disproportionately over the past decade, thereby requiring redistricting in 2021 to achieve greater equality between Districts. 

According to Section 9-22 of the School Code: In the year following each decennial census, the school board shall reapportion the board districts to reflect the results of such census. If reapportionment is required by this paragraph, the school board districts shall be compact, contiguous and substantially equal in population, and such reapportionment plan shall be completed and formally approved by a majority of the members of the board not less than 90 days before the last date established by law for the submission of nominating petitions for the next school board election.

On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, the Board of Education discussed the process for using 2020 US Census data to look at our current sub-district boundaries, criteria, priorities and timeline for completion. Based on the Board’s discussion, the new apportionment map will include the following six criteria:

• Sub-districts that are substantially equal in population based on the 2020 US Census
• Sub-districts that are contiguous in territory
• Sub-districts that are compact
• Sub-districts maintain proper minority balance in compliance with voter’s rights act
• Sub-districts that exhibit equitable distribution of University of Illinois students
• Sub-districts where at least 2 BOE representatives are attached to an existing elementary school attendance area

The documents below show the current sub-districts as well as directions on how Urbana citizens can participate in the process to draw maps for the new Board sub-districts. The District will also be creating maps algorithmically based on the six criteria.

• Current racial and ethnic breakdown of the district, based on 2020 census for the purpose of maintaining proper minority balance in compliance with the Voters Right’s Act of 1965.

• Maps for Board redistricting criteria: The current subdistrict boundaries with the metrics Champaign County GIS will provide the district with for the final district maps.
• This map has an overlay for communities of interest that shows the University Zones, which are supposed to be distributed as evenly as possible between sub-districts.
• Map of current districts overlaid with the school attendance areas. (Note: You need to check USD116 attendance areas).  This same map shows the predominant race by block if you check the overlay for predominant Race by 2020 census block #4.
• The Illinois school report card with student demographics. While this is not the primary consideration for the redistricting process, it may be informative as we are working to maintain proper racial and ethnic breakdown of the sub-districts.