Can the chair call meetings whenever he or she wants, including executive sessions?

 

The answer is slightly different for K-12, ESD and community college boards.

K-12 boards

Special meetings, including executive sessions, may be convened at least 24 hours before such a meeting is to be held:
•    By order of the chair.
•    Upon request by three board members.
•    By common agreement of the board members. (ORS 332.045)

ESD boards

•    Special meetings, including executive sessions, may be convened by common consent of the board members at least 24 hours before such a meeting is to be held. (ORS 334.100)

Community college boards

Special meetings, including executive session, may be convened at least 24 hours before such a meeting is to be held:
•    By order of the chair.
•    Upon request by four board members.
•    By common agreement of the board members. (ORS 341.283)

The key here is that the chair is still a ‘servant leader,’ which means that although the chair can call the meeting for a K-12 or CC board, he or she cannot force the other board members to attend or to discuss any particular item. A quorum (a majority of the board members) still must show up in order to hold a meeting. If a quorum is present, it can also approve a motion to immediately adjourn with no action or to change the agenda to remove the executive session or change or remove any item the group does not wish to discuss.