News Center

New leadership, exciting times

February 08, 2012

During these first few, extremely busy weeks as your interim executive director, I have emphasized keeping things running smoothly while addressing issues and making needed changes. My first priority, though, has been meeting members’ needs.

I have appreciated your thoughtful comments in response to our online survey, which focused on our work as your association and your work in local school districts. You identified the top issues as funding, student achievement, quality teachers and class size. Why not visit our website and check out the findings of the survey yourself? 

Having met with all staff members individually to better understand the work they do, I’m excited because we have so many marvelous and innovative staff members. We have posted the position of deputy executive director with the hope of attracting someone who has a strong presence in education, excellent communication skills and the ability to build partnerships and deliver our messages. 

I have met with Ben Cannon from the governor’s office to express our unshakable faith in the power of local decision making. In that meeting I expressed the determination of Oregon’s school boards to lead the way on a wide range of education issues. I’ve also talked with many of our partner organizations in order to bolster our relationships with them and strengthen our collective voice. I believe our partnership with COSA will be especially productive this year, since we are working to align our goals as much as possible. OSBA’s legislative team is working hard with our partners to achieve positive changes for education during the short February session. 

On Jan. 22, the OSBA Legislative Policy Committee heard from Ben Cannon and Tim Nesbitt from the governor’s office about the administration’s plan for reinvigorating Oregon’s education system. If the Oregon Education Investment Board and the proposed achievement compacts are to succeed in creating real change for education, OSBA must to do more than occupy a space at the table: we must be decision makers. The most brilliant idea in the world will fail if those who must implement it do not buy into the change. You know your communities and schools better than anyone else. Local board members must be part of those changes if they are to be meaningful for students. 

Improve student achievement. Increase graduation rates. Close the achievement gap. These are the goals of Oregon’s school boards. Now we must work together to achieve those goals. And we must tackle the issues that you—our membership—have identified. 

We are ready and able to carry forward this important work. Will you join us? 

I’m excited about the year ahead. Please let us know what we can do for you—we’re just a phone call or an email away.

Betsy Miller-Jones, Interim Executive Director