Your Voice Matters!

The Alum Rock Union School District is providing the following public mapping tools to assist the public in drawing maps. There are different tools for different purposes, and different tools for different levels of technical skill and interest.

Available mapping tools include:

1. Dave's Redistricting App(DRA), a simple online map drawing tool to easily draw communities of interest or full trustee area plans.

Alum Rock Union School District DRA Template

DRA allows members of the community to create and submit proposed trustee area maps. Use the resources below, including a step-by-step "How To Guide" and video tutorials to learn how DRA works.

Quick Instructions:

• On the main website(https://davesredistricting.org/maps#), register to create a user account to draw a district map. 

• Once you have made an account, you can access the Alum Rock Template and click the paintbrush icon to "Make an editable copy of this map."

• Once you have drawn your map, please email a link to the map and the plan name that you have published to remap@arusd.org (otherwise the District will not know you have drawn it and will be unable to include it in their deliberations). You can also include any description or justification for your boundaries. 

PDF "Dave's Redistricting App User Guide"

Video Tutorials (YouTube)

• Short Introduction to DRA

• In-Depth Tutorial on DRA Online
   

2. Public Participation Kit - Paper map with Population Counts, for those without internet access or prefer paper. 

• English
• Spanish

The Population Units show the total population of each area. For more detail, the Blocks are also viewable on the Interactive Review Map.

Please use a thick dark-colored pen or different colors to draw your map. You can scan or photograph and send your map by email to remap@arusd.org. You can also submit it at the District Office in person.

Alternatively, submit any form of hand-drawn map showing the boundaries of each district.

3. Draw Your Community Map -- Paper Map with major roads, cities and schools to help define communities of interest. 

• English
• Spanish

This map has streets, parks, schools and other features to help identify neighborhoods throughout the District.

Please use a thick dark-colored pen or different colors to draw your map. You can scan or photograph and send your map by email to remap@arusd.org. You can also submit it at the District Office in person.

4. Interactive Review Map to review, analyze and compare maps, not to create them. Zoom in and out on maps boundaries, search for addresses and other locations and view draft maps. Similar to Google Maps in ease of use.

• Interactive Review Map

Submit maps to remap@arusd.org. After you submit your map, the demographic consultants will generate the population and other demographic details for your proposed map. Maps can be viewed on the Draft Maps page or on the Interactive Review Map. 

It is helpful if you submit written comments with your map describing how your map was drawn to meet the required criteria. An example of this would be describing the specific neighborhoods or communities of interest that are kept within a single trustee area.

If you would like to submit a map created using your own software, please email to remap@arusd.org and include: (1) a GIS shapefile and/or a Census Block equivalency file (using 2020 Census Blocks); and, (2) a description of the choices and key points of your map.

The Board of Trustees invites you to help define your "Community of Interest" (COI) to ensure these new boundaries provide fair and effective representation.

What is a Community of Interest? A COI is a geographic area where residents share common social or economic interests. Keeping these communities together is a vital part of the districting process. These may be defined by:

• Shared Interests: Schools, housing, transit, and community safety.

• Social Networks: Neighborhood associations, faith-based groups, and shared spaces like parks or shopping centers.

• Demographics: Similar cultural identities, languages, and socio-economic statuses.

• Local Boundaries: Existing lines from other local jurisdictions or school zones.

Please consider the following questions and criteria when considering your community of interest (for consideration only, no need to provide answers):

• Does your community have a shared culture, characteristics, or bond?
• Is your community geographic in nature? Is your community able to be mapped? Is there density within your community?

ARUSD Community Interest Form - coming soon!