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OSBA elects Legislative Policy Committee as part of new governance structure
Salem - May 2, 2008 -
Oregon school, education service district and community college boards in April elected their first Legislative Policy Committee (LPC) to serve a newly reorganized Oregon School Boards Association.
OSBA's structure, currently aligned with Oregon's five congressional districts, will be divided among 14 geographic regions starting next January. This action was approved by members at their annual meeting in November to engage more statewide involvement in association governance. OSBA members will elect their new board of directors during September, and officers in December.
LPC begins immediately to start priorities
"Our new LPC begins work this weekend in Salem to lay the groundwork for OSBA's public education advocacy work in the 2009 Legislature," said Annette Mattson, David Douglas School Board member. As OSBA president-elect, Mattson oversees OSBA elections. "We're including everyone in tied races because all candidates will have a lot to share, even though we won't have runoff election results until June 1."
Ten of 19 new LPC positions were elected; three races resulted in ties requiring runoff elections; and OSBA Board President Craig Prewitt (Phoenix-Talent School Board) appointed six members to fill positions in regions that did not nominate candidates to run in the election. Committee chair is OSBA Vice President Beth Gerot (Eugene School Board). The full LPC also includes the current OSBA Board of Directors.
Members from throughout Oregon
The following LPC members were elected and will serve through Dec. 31, 2009:
Barney Lindsay, Morrow County School Board; Jeff Smith, Sisters School Board; Laurie Adams, Springfield School Board; Henry (Hank) A. Perry, Douglas Education Service District; Dennis Warren, Warrenton-Hammond School Board; Kevin Noreen, Sherwood School Board; Karen Cunningham, Beaverton School Board; Katie Larsell, Parkrose School Board; Susan Hammel, Corbett School Board; and Dave Shields, Mt. Hood Community College.
These runoff elections will be held May 2 to 30:
Steve Lowell (nominated by Klamath County School Board) faces Lori Theros (nominated by Klamath Falls City Schools); Jonathan A. Bilden (nominated by Eagle Point School Board) faces Eric Dziura (nominated by Medford School Board); and Michael Blanchard (nominated by Dallas School Board) faces Francis Charbonnier (nominated by McMinnville School Board).
OSBA President Prewitt appointed the following members, pending confirmation by the OSBA board: Shelly Dennis, Harper School Board; Janette Palmer, Molalla River School Board; Denise Browning, Gladstone School Board; Diane Gerson, Sweet Home School Board; Larry Trott, Willamette Education Service District; and David Beeson, Silver Falls School Board.
OSBA's 14 new regions were created for more equitable representation, according to school- and community-college populations and communities of interest. Members voted for the new governance structure in November. Previously, LPC members were appointed by the OSBA board president from Oregon's Congressional districts.
While OSBA's new structure includes 14 regions, some regions have more than one LPC member because of larger student populations (19 total). The same will be true when the new OSBA board is elected.
About OSBA: The statewide association formed in 1946 serves about 1,400 school district, education service district, community college, and public charter school board members (and their superintendents and presidents) with leadership, legislative, policy, labor, financial, legal, and community relations services.
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