Paramount Unified switches from at-large to by-district elections

The Paramount Unified School District is switching from an at-large system for electing school board members to a by-district voting system, the Press-Telegram reported.

With the change, the Los Angeles County-based district will join many other large districts with distinct voting districts for each of its school board members. Under the at-large voting system, everyone living in the district’s boundaries can vote for each school board seat. But under the new system, voters will only be able to vote for the school board seat representing the specific area of the district where they reside.

Many other districts already use the by-district voting system, including Los Angeles County’s two largest school districts, Long Beach Unified and Los Angeles Unified.

“It’s important to have representation from our diverse school district,” Paramount Unified board member Eddie Cruz said told the Press-Telegram. “This is an opportunity for individuals to take ownership of their school community.”