September Redistricting Study Commission Meeting Summary
MCCSC’s 92 member Redistricting Study Commission met for the sixth time on Wednesday, September 17.
Dr. Blaine Garman-McClaine of MCCSC shared that in response to Commission members’ requests, the Commission would examine how Monroe County and U.S. census data might inform the Redistricting Study.
The Commission was introduced to Dr. John Baeten, GIS Coordinator from the Monroe County Surveyor’s Office. Baeten, who is also a Commission member, shared a public data dashboard for Monroe County that includes U.S. Census data (American Community Survey), county assessor data, and MCCSC attendance zones.
All data in the dashboard is publicly available data.
The interactive dashboard has two interactive maps in it; one allows users to explore Monroe County survey data organized by MCCSC attendance zone and one allows a study of U.S. Census data (for example, median household income) by Census Tracts in Monroe County.
Dr. Baeten explained one limitation of the data dashboard. Because U.S. Census Tracts do not align with MCCSC school attendance zones, the dashboard cannot create reports of census and county data organized by MCCSC attendance zones.
Commission members spent the rest of the meeting exploring the public dashboard.
Next steps: Detailed study of example redistricting scenarios
MCCSC plans to work with Dr. Baeten and use Monroe County assessor data and U.S. Census Blocks to create the example redistricting scenarios that will be studied going forward. Dr. Tim Dowling, who is leading the Redistricting Study, explained that U.S. Census Blocks, which are smaller than Tracts, could be used to create example redistricting scenarios that aim to balance socioeconomic status across schools.
In October through December 2025, the Redistricting Study Commission will start a more detailed study of nine example redistricting scenarios that include Monroe County and census data. The Commission will study both elementary and secondary scenarios.
The purpose of studying many example redistricting scenarios is to give the Board of School Trustees an analysis of what possible costs, transportation changes, and student impacts could be if redistricting were to occur.
The Commission’s work, as outlined in the project charter, is limited to data analysis, and does not include making recommendations.
Final product of Redistricting Study will be a report
The end product of the Redistricting Study will be an informational report to the Board of School Trustees in spring of 2026 to inform the Board’s consideration of potential redistricting.
The report will contain a summary of the Commission’s work, peer-reviewed research insights, and an analysis of nine example redistricting scenarios. The purpose is to build the Board’s understanding of the implications of potential redistricting, drawing on student enrollment, building utilization, demographic data, and cost analysis.
The report will be informational in nature and will not include recommendations.
About the MCCSC Redistricting Study
Information about the MCCSC Redistricting Study and summaries of Commission meetings are posted online at mccsc.edu/redistricting. The public can sign up to receive email updates about the Redistricting Study following Commission meetings and Board meetings.
