Editorial: Follow up a wise plan with outreach

Having wisely decided to form five distinct districts so all members of the population can be represented equally on its board — thus sidestepping potential litigation — Glendale Community College trustees are taking strides toward accomplishing that goal in time for the 2017 election.

About six months ago, they drew up a map outlining the new districts and, in November, that plan received approval from the state Community Colleges Board of Governors. The next election will be for three of the five new district seats; the remaining two will be filled in the 2019 election.

Now that the map has been adopted, the next tasks include educating all Glendale voters about the change and encouraging residents of new Districts 2 (Montrose to Scholl Canyon, including the Woodbury and Chevy Chase canyon areas), 3 (northwest Glendale) and 4 (south Glendale) to consider seeking office.

District 4 is of special concern for the next election, as it is home to a diverse, often lower-income population with different needs and perspectives than those found in more affluent neighborhoods. Historically, the college’s board of trustees has often been made up of Glendale residents living north of the Ventura (134) Freeway.

Today, in fact, that’s where all five of the current board members live. We encourage extensive outreach — especially to civic groups, nonprofits and human services organizations in the neighborhoods south of the freeway — beginning now and running for as long as it takes — until strong candidates emerge and the collective consciousness fully grasps this new, more inclusive system of filling GCC’s governing panel.