On Monday, the South Whidbey Board of Education will decide whether they will represent slightly redefined groups of people.

After delaying action on proposed changes to the district boundaries for its board members until January, the board will make its decision early at this week’s meeting.

Every 10 years, to coincide with the federal census, the school board reviews population data to ensure the five districts are balanced in terms of population and geographic area. Each district is represented by a school board member. Maps representing the current and proposed boundaries will be posted at the meeting. The legal description of the new boundaries will be written after board action.

“The reason for district balancing is so that every part of the community is represented,” said Superintendent Martin Laster at the board’s Nov. 26 meeting.

To keep this balance, the district plans to shift the boundaries for each of the five areas. The proposal calls for having board members represent Clinton, Freeland and Langley, and two at-large areas. The changes are not large — existing districts will remain largely intact. District boundaries were last modified in 1992.

School officials hope with two seats at large, more people will consider participating by running for election to the board. Two board members ran unopposed in the November election, Langley incumbent Jim Adsley and Clinton’s Helen Price-Johnson.

The goal of the redistricting plan is to divide districts so they are not only nearly equal in population, but compact and geographically contiguous. The redistricting cannot favor any race or political party. Districts should also coincide with natural boundaries and existing communities where possible. According to the 2000 Census, the district had a total population of 14,007. Also at issue in redrawing district boundaries is the Hispanic and non-white ratio to caucasians. These groups are outnumbered at least 10-1 in all five districts.

At the Nov. 26 meeting, former school board member Steve Scoles said he wants the board to modify district boundaries to the three towns. He noted that during the last four election cycles some of the board members were unopposed.

“I think we’d get more people interested in running for election,” he said.

He also suggested the possibility of having all the seats at large.

But Laster said he thinks the district, based on size, can only have two seats at large.

Board member Bobby Riggs said he would have preferred to win a contested election when he ran for his seat in 1999.

“I was disheartened that no one ran against me in 1999,” he said. “If there is a way to cast a wider net, create more interest in participation, I would be in favor of it.”

New board member Helen Price-Johnson asked for more time to think about redistricting.

“I honor Steve (Scoles) for the thought he put into his proposal,” she said. “I would like more time think it over.”

Not all the board members bought Scoles’ argument. Jim Adsley said the lack of candidates is tied to something else.

“I don’t think the problem is geography,” he said. “I think its a trend out there that varies from year to year … other issues out there that drive people not to participate.”