After a spirited discussion, amid accusations of gerrymandering that were strongly denied, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board voted to change the school board member districts based on 2020 census data.

There are HSE School Board elections every two years.  in 2020, there was an at-large election, where one member is elected in each of the three townships encompassing the school district (Delaware, Fall Creek & Wayne).  A candidate must live in the township, but all voters in the district vote on all three seats.

In 2022, there will be four board seats up for election.  Candidates run within their district and only voters in that district elect that board member.

There were three maps before the board.  Members Suzanne Thomas an Brad Boyer favored one map, the rest of the board supported another.  The vote to approve the new map (see graphic above) was 5-2, with Suzanne Thomas and Brad Boyer voting no.

Thomas than asked that her map be considered for a vote, and it lost 6-1, with only Ms. Thomas voting in favor.

Prior to the vote, the public spoke, with many claiming the map, that later was approved, was gerrymandered by a person that has ties to Democrats.  Board member Julie Chambers responded that there was no evidence that the map favored or disfavored any current board member or was gerrymandered in any way.

The approved map has a less than 8% difference between the most and least populated districts.  Board member Sarah Donsbach said the law requires no more than a 15% gap in district populations and that a 6% difference is a reasonable goal with redistricting electoral lines.