Chapter 13School District Boundaries

Section § 2600

Explanation

This law requires county superintendents to ensure that school district and community college district boundaries are clearly described in records. If these boundaries are unclear or conflict with property lines, the board of supervisors can correct them to match clear property lines, while keeping changes minimal. The boundaries must be adjusted so that the majority of a property lies within one district, but they can't significantly alter the districts' original boundaries.

Every county superintendent shall inquire and ascertain whether the boundaries of the school districts and community college districts in his county are definitely and plainly described in the records of the board of supervisors and keep in his office a full and correct transcript of the boundaries.
If the boundaries of districts are conflicting or incorrectly described, or if, by reason of the resubdivision of land or other change of property lines, the location of the boundaries becomes indefinite or conflicts with lines of assessment, the board of supervisors may correct and relocate the boundaries to follow definite, established property lines, conforming as nearly as practicable to the general location of the former boundaries.
Where boundary lines are corrected or relocated, the relocation of the new lines shall be made in such a manner that the majority of the area of the parcel or property affected determines the district in which the parcel or property is located. Nothing herein contained authorizes the board of supervisors, in relocating the boundaries, to substantially alter the former boundaries of school districts, or community college districts.
county superintendent school district boundaries community college districts board of supervisors property lines boundary conflict resubdivision correct boundaries relocate boundaries assessment lines parcel majority district location boundary correction property assessment original boundaries
(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

Section § 2601

Explanation

This law defines how to interpret boundary descriptions for school districts or community college districts in California when they are related to the ocean shore. If the description is "to" or "from" the shore, it means it goes up to three miles out into the ocean. If it mentions "along," "with," "by," or "on" the shore, it means a line running parallel to the shore, three miles out. This does not change any existing district powers or responsibilities.

Whenever the boundary line of any school district or community college district is described as being “to” or “from” the ocean shore, such description means to or from a point three miles seaward from the shore.
Whenever the boundary line of any school district or community college district is described as being “along,” “with,” “by,” or “on” the ocean shore, such description means on a line parallel with and three miles seaward from the shore.
Nothing contained in this section shall retroactively alter, enlarge, diminish or otherwise affect the powers, jurisdiction, rights, duties, responsibilities, obligations or liabilities of any such school district or community college district.
boundary line school district community college district ocean shore seaward three miles boundary description parallel line jurisdiction rights duties responsibilities obligations liabilities interpretation
(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

Section § 2602

Explanation

If a school district or community college district gets split by a new county boundary, it automatically turns into a joint school district crossing county lines, unless a different rule is set.

Whenever any school district or community college district has been or is hereafter intersected by any county boundary line in the formation of any new county, or in changing the boundary of any county, and portions of the district then lie in different counties, the district shall, by operation of law, constitute and become established as a joint school district, at the time of the intersection, unless otherwise provided.
joint school district community college district county boundary district intersection new county formation boundary change multi-county district school district reorganization automatic joint district district law change cross-county district county line intersection intersected districts district legal status joint district establishment
(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

Section § 2603

Explanation

This law allows a county superintendent to decide if it's necessary to print a description of a school district's boundaries in a pamphlet. The costs for these pamphlets can be covered by the county school service fund.

The county superintendent may, if he deems it necessary, order a description of the boundaries of any district under his jurisdiction printed in pamphlet form and pay for the pamphlets out of the county school service fund.
county superintendent district boundaries pamphlet printing county school service fund school district description jurisdiction educational administration boundary description fund allocation school district pamphlet
(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)