Think of it as an art project for grown-ups.

Local commissioners at Tuesday’s hearing on Los Angeles Unified School District included Allan Mutchnik (right), Lindsey Horvath, Lilliana Pérez and Patricia Castellanos. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Redistricting Commission on Tuesday held a public hearing regarding the commission’s task of redrawing the district’s lines.

The new maps will determine who represents Angelenos on the district’s school board. Though the maps must be in the hands of the Los Angeles City Council on March 1, the commission held its first round of public hearings this week.

“We’re pretty much an open book at this point,” commission executive director Doug Wance said.

Four of the 15 commissioners outlined the redistricting process and fielded questions and comments during the hearing at Helen Bernstein High School. Meetings were held this week in all seven districts, with the final meeting being held at 6 p.m. today at Hamilton High School, 2955 S. Robertson Blvd. After a proposed map is completed, another round of hearings will ensue.

“The goal of tonight is for you to learn about the process, to give input and have your questions answered,” school board member Steve Zimmer said.

Zimmer commended the commissioners for volunteering for the “very intense job” of redrawing the district lines. He said the new district lines will have a large bearing on the district, which is undergoing “a lot of stress and strain.”

“The drawing of these maps is a very important process,” Zimmer said.

Encino resident Glenn Bailey, who lives in LAUSD’s 4th District, said the commissioners should seriously consider creating two full districts in the Valley. He said Valley residents should be closer to their district.

Bailey also asked the commissioners to take into account Los Angeles’ 95 neighborhood councils, some of which are split into two districts and didn’t exist when the last district lines were drawn.

“They should not be divided,” he said. “I think that should be avoided.”

Resident Bill Ring agreed, saying that some of the councils have established education committees and offer donations to schools. Those efforts can be muddled when a council has two districts to cover, he said.

Ring said the commissioners have a lot to consider, as the district has changed considerably since the last redistricting plan. He said they should consider the increase in independent charter schools and the district offering families the ability to choose their schools.

“This is a very difficult, politically-motivated task,” Ring said. “This is a challenging exercise.”

One resident requested that the commissioners hold the hearings at a later time, as the 6 p.m. meeting may have been too early for some residents. He also asked that the commissioners make sure cities outside Los Angeles are adequately represented.

Tahirah Farris, project manager for Healthy City, said her organization has created a site for residents to draw their own maps and submit them as public input to the commission.

“It’s really trying to provide a seat at the table for [interested residents],” Farris said.

The Redistricting Commission’s website, www.redis-tricting2011.lacity.org, also provides an opportunity for residents to draw their own maps and submit them as public input.

According to commission documents, seven members of the 15-member commission were selected by each member of the LAUSD board. Four were appointed by City Council President Herb Wesson, and four were appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Allan Mutchnik, who attended Wednesday’s meeting, is the chairman, with Jimmie Woods Gray serving as vice-chair. Commissioners Lilliana Perez, Lindsey Horvath and Patricia Castellanos were also present Wednesday.