August 10, 2006 Outlook & Review (97k )

This year OSBA celebrates its 60th anniversary. Since its creation in 1946, the philosophy has been that excellence in governance results in quality educational opportunities for boys and girls in Oregon.

Our association works on many levels to foster excellence for local school boards. This work encompasses a broad spectrum of effort, including opportunities for leadership and training, policy review and development, communications, legislative and community advocacy, and direct services to members, such as help with collective bargaining, superintendent searches, and legal assistance.

It's appropriate that an organization dedicated to improving local governance should, after 60 years, take a good look at its own governance structure and practices. Last year, the OSBA Board initiated a "best practices" review of school board associations in other states. The knowledge gained has sparked interest in whether our own approach might be improved. 

At its annual retreat, the OSBA Board unanimously approved the creation of a Governance Review Committee to undertake the first historical, comprehensive review of the association's governance structure.

As your president, I'll be appointing about 17 committee members to represent urban, suburban, rural, large, medium, and small districts plus ESDs and community colleges. 

The work of this committee will not be quickly or easily completed. A comprehensive review means just that - a highly informed, deliberate, and methodical analysis of our approach and others'. We'll look at our constitution and bylaws, our board elections process, how we recommend and adopt resolutions, and how we involve members and seek equal representation.

We'll be asking a lot of questions to emerge with a governance structure that meets members' needs and makes OSBA stronger and more unified than ever. For example: What are the strengths and weaknesses of a vote-by-mail system? Many other associations and the NSBA have delegate assemblies. How would that work here?

Having served on boards for several years, I've found that one of the remarkable (and wonderful) things about OSBA is the strong ethic of dedication to continuous improvement. As an association, we constantly ask, "How can we do a better job in our service to members?"

This initiative - the Association Governance Review - reflects that long-held ethic. The committee will be formed later this month. I invite your thoughts and suggestions. Please contact me care of OSBA Associate Executive Director Ron Wilson, rwilson@osba.org.

2006-07 Governance Review Process