Current Salem-Keizer School Board zones, adopted in 2011.
The Salem-Keizer School Board wants to hear from the public about two plans to redraw board zone boundaries.
The board plans to adopt a new map in December, tweaking the boundaries of the seven zones used in school board elections. The redistricting is required to better balance the number of people living in each zone based on 2020 Census population figures.
The changes will have no affect on school attendance boundaries, which determine which schools students are assigned to based on where they live.
Currently, board members are elected at-large, meaning all voters in the school district vote for every seat. The board has also discussed changing elections to a by-zone system where voters elect only the representative for the zone they live in. The next board election is in May 2023.
At a Tuesday work session, board members agreed to bring forward two maps for the public to consider.
Previous coverage: School board weighs new zones to balance population
The first map is the most similar to current zone boundaries and leaves boundaries for Keizer (Zone 6), southeast Salem (Zone 5) and north Salem (Zone 7) untouched.
Zone 2, which includes McKay High School and portions of northeast Salem, would expand several blocks south to State Street along its southwestern edge.
Zone 4, the portion of south Salem including Sprague High School, would expand slightly, and the portion of south Salem included in Zone 1, would shrink, with Madrona Avenue South rather than Brown Avenue South as the dividing line.
The second map would remove all south Salem streets from Zone 1 and put the portion currently included there in Zone 4. To compensate, the west Salem zone would be extended to cover downtown Salem north to the Grant area. North Salem High School would remain in Zone 7, and Zone 5, southeast Salem, would extend west to 14th Street.
Alternative 1, one of two proposed Salem-Keizer School Board zone maps to adjust for 2020 Census population shifts.
Alternative 2, one of two proposed Salem-Keizer School Board zone maps to adjust for 2020 Census population shifts.
The board is seeking public input through a survey through Dec. 1 and plans to discuss feedback at a work session Dec. 7, then vote on a new map at a Dec. 14 meeting.
Members of the public can view the maps on the district website, and see physical copies at the locations listed below.
Peoples Church
4500 Lancaster Dr N.E.
Peoples Church Casa de Adoración
4500 Lancaster Dr N.E.
To God Be the Glory
4445 Silverton Rd. N.E.
Salem Alliance Church
555 Gaines St N.E.
Salem Public Library
585 Liberty St S.E.
Salem Leadership Foundation
Broadway Commons-1300 Broadway N.E. #409
Salem Islamic Center (Arabic)
3215 Fisher Rd. N.E.
Salem/Keizer Coalition for Equality (Spanish)
3850 Portland Rd. N.E. Suite #100
Mano a Mano (Spanish)
3850 Portland Rd N.E. #130
2921 Saddle Club St. S.E. #1009
Salem for Refugees (Swahili)
1430 5th St N.E.
Iglesia Bautista Cristo Vive (Spanish)
4051 Market St. N.E.
-Rachel Alexander
