NY S07587

Allows union free school districts and central school districts entirely or partially within Orange County to establish school election wards by board resolution and mandatory referendum, with 3-9 wards for union free districts and 5, 7, or 9 wards for central districts.

Requires the board to conduct at least three public hearings held 30-90 days before the voter referendum, with notices published five times in local newspapers or posted in at least 20 public places.

Mandates the board assess potential historic disenfranchisement or discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation before establishing wards.

Establishes that wards must be contiguous, contain approximately equal populations, conform to school attendance zones and geographic boundaries, and retain contiguous communities of interest.

Requires ward boundary redefinition following each federal decennial census unless the board finds wards maintain equal populations with no discrimination; if voters reject a redefinition twice, the ward system is dissolved and trustees are elected district-wide.