ESD Governance

Currently, seven-member boards of directors elected to four-year terms by district voters govern most ESDs. These boards generally meet once a month. However, ESD boards may have seven, nine or 11 members. (ORS 334.025)

All ESDs, except Multnomah (see The Budget Committee), are required to have budget committees appointed by the board. A majority of the budget committee must be members of local school boards or designees selected by local school boards in the ESD’s jurisdiction. The Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission provides the budget review function for Multnomah ESD.

Boundary Board

An important function of an ESD board is its role as the school district boundary board. In this capacity, the board considers petitions by school districts or citizens for changes in school district boundaries and for the merger of school districts. (ORS 330.080 to 330.310)

Current law requires a petition with 5 percent or 500 signatures (whichever is less) to initiate a boundary change. Action on the part of all affected local district boards also will initiate the process.

In making its decision, the boundary board is required to consider the petition or actions of local district boards. If the change does not result in a district becoming noncontiguous or having fewer than 20 students, the boundary board must approve the change.

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