A bill granting Orange County school districts the authority to establish wards for school board elections has cleared a significant legislative hurdle.

The measure, recently passed by the state Senate, aims to ensure equitable representation on school boards across the district.

The proposed ward system seeks to address longstanding concerns about the fair representation of diverse communities within school boards. This legislative push comes in the wake of a protracted battle in Rockland County's East Ramapo School District, where community members have long voiced grievances over inadequate representation.

Following a lawsuit filed by the NAACP, East Ramapo was mandated to transition to an election-by-ward system to better reflect the interests of its constituents.

With the bill's passage through the state Senate, it now advances to the governor's desk for final approval. If signed into law, Orange County school districts could soon adopt similar measures to ensure all voices are heard in their respective board elections.