CCISD has five main high schools and comprises five single-member districts; the board therefore has two at-large trustees in addition to one representing each district. Laura DuPont and Scott Bowen in District 1 and At-Large Position B, respectively, are up for re-election in May.
Trustees reviewed five proposed redistricting maps prepared by Paul McLarty, deputy superintendent of business and support services, at a Dec. 6 workshop, but ultimately favored the plan that was drawn as closely around the high school boundaries as possible.
McLarty used data from Templeton Demographics and U.S. census survey results to review how CCISD has grown in population over the last decade. The most growth was seen in the southern part of the district, he said, and the district grew by more than 37,000 people overall.
A majority of student growth is predicted to be on the western side of the district moving forward with districts 1 and 5 expected to grow the most, he said.
“There'll be some in all areas, of course,” McLarty said. “One of the goals was to try and make District 5 a little bit smaller in population so that over the next 10 years, it could grow as much as possible.”
Districts 1 and 5 were both redrawn with smaller populations to account for the potential growth, he added. On the other hand, District 4’s growth was low from 2010 to 2020, so it was kept at a similar size. There is more vacant land in the western part of the district that has development potential, compared to the oil fields taking up much of District 4’s vacant space, McLarty said.
While a vast majority of student growth is accounted for by modeling housing-related data, apartment complex growth also is factored in. McLarty said the district generally has a couple years' notice regarding new apartment complexes, and CCISD works closely with the city of League City and developers to monitor real estate trends.
“These are certainly drawn with the best knowledge I have right now,” he said.
Trustees agreed the map that most closely mirrored high school boundaries was the preferred draft to work with moving forward. This map helps ensure representation from across the district, much like how CCISD leaders will choose people from each high school zone when assembling decision-making committees, DuPont said.
After receiving feedback from trustees, McLarty will move forward with plans to finalize the new district boundary lines and aim to bring them for board approval by mid-January at the latest. It is required to have new lines drawn 90 days before an election at minimum so that polling locations can be finalized, he said.
