WHAT IS THE COUNTY COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION?
It is a committee created in each county by the California State Legislature and is elected by the representatives from local boards of education.
The County Committee studies and makes recommendations in the areas of (a) the organization and reorganization of school districts; (b) changes in school district boundaries; and (c) the number of trustees and the manner by which they are elected. These activities are coordinated by the Secretary to the Orange County Committee on School District Organization.
It is important to note that the County Superintendent of Schools, or his/her designee, is not a member of the County Committee, and therefore, has no authority over the decisions of the Committee and remains neutral on issues under consideration.
WHO SERVES ON THE COUNTY COMMITTEE?
In Orange County, there are eleven members - two representatives from each supervisorial district and one member at large. School or community college district board members who are otherwise eligible may be members of the County Committee. Members need not be current or prior school board members. The term of office is four years. (Education Code §4006-4009)
HOW ARE MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE ELECTED?
The candidates for the Orange County Committee on School District Organization are presented to the Nominating Committee through a nominating process, which takes place from July through October.
The Nominating Committee is made up of representatives from the 31 school and community college boards in Orange County. The members of the Nominating Committee are appointed by their respective Boards at their districts annual organizational meeting (held in December of each year). Committee Members are elected by absentee ballot or by an in-person ballot at the joint OCSBA/ACSA dinner meeting, held between October 1 and December 1.
HOW OFTEN DOES THE COUNTY COMMITTEE MEET?
The County Committee must have one organizational meeting each year within thirty days after the annual meeting called by the Secretary to the County Committee. Additional meetings are on an as-needed basis called by the Chairperson or by a majority of the County Committee members. (Education Code §4012-4014)
THE COUNTY COMMITTEE’S AGENDA
All meetings of the County Committee are open to the public. The public may address the Committee on issues that are of interest to them. In addition to the County Committee website, the agenda is posted in a public place at the County Office of Education as well as sent to the affected school districts.
In order to get an item on the County Committee agenda, the item must be originated by, or submitted to the County Superintendent of Schools or his appointed representative.
HOW IS REORGANIZATION ACTION INITIATED?
Districts may be reorganized by transfers of territory, unifications, unionizations, or annexations (Unification is the formation of a new K-12 district from elementary or high school districts; unionization is the formation of a new district from districts of the same level – elementary, high school, or unified; Annexation is when one district is merged into another district that continues to operate). (Education Code §35700-35785.)
Action to consider reorganization, the transfer of territory, the altering of trustee areas, or the size of school district boards may be initiated by a citizens petition, a joint request of two school district governing boards; a petition from a city council, county board of supervisors, or local agency formation commission; or petition from a landowner, or by the county committee on school district organization.