School boards around the state have begun debating paying their members a stipend under a new law. At least two have taken votes, and as many more have it on the agenda for this week.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission, though, has something to say about paying school board members. On Friday, OSBA updated its board stipends resource page to say school boards should wait for the commission’s opinion before taking any more action.
“We hope the guidance from OGEC gives clear direction to school board members across Oregon so that they are not caught in the middle of an ethics violation for trying to implement this new policy,” said Jim Green, OSBA executive director.
School board members are paid in some states, but until this year Oregon boards were prohibited from doing so under state law. Rep. Ben Bowman, a former Tigard-Tualatin School Board member, championed House Bill 2753 in the 2023 Legislature to change the law.
Bowman, D-Tigard, said he wanted to make it possible for more people to serve on school boards who might find the time away from work or caring for family too much of a financial barrier.
OSBA Board President-elect Sami Al-Abdrabbuh said school board service raises equity issues and stipends make “the playing field more equal and accessible so the opportunities increase.”
Al-Abdrabbuh, a former president of the OSBA Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus, is a Corvallis School Board member. Corvallis debated the stipend at its Sept. 7 meeting and had planned further discussion.
Al-Abdrabbuh said it is uncomfortable for school board members to discuss supporting themselves, but he said a stipend would give him more capacity to support students. He said the goal is to get the strongest advocates for children and sometimes that might require paying someone who couldn’t put in the time without it.
Susan Myers, the commission’s compliance and education coordinator, said she received a request for advice from a school board member Thursday. On Friday, she contacted OSBA.
Myers said the commission has concerns about conflict of interest. Oregon statute defines “conflict of interest” as any action or decision by a public official that could or would result in a monetary benefit.
Myers said the commission will issue an opinion later this week that will likely include advice on how school boards can proceed with awarding stipends.
“We are trying to find a way to make it happen without school board members being in violation,” she said. “There are different ways to do it. Some are more effective than others.”
She said the commission would not investigate boards that have already taken action unless someone complains. At that point, Myers said, the commission would focus on helping the board come into compliance, possibly with just a revote.
OSBA Policy Services Director Spencer Lewis said OSBA would update its guidance as quickly as possible based on the commission’s ultimate interpretation.
School board members are split on the stipend. The stipends could help create more diverse school boards and reduce the strain on current members, but board members are hesitant to take money that could go to classrooms.
HB 2753 permits school boards to approve a stipend of any amount up to $500 a month. School boards must vote on the change in policy, but individual school board members can choose not to receive the stipend.
The bill took effect July 18. The Fern Ridge School Board had already opted out for the fiscal year in a meeting the night before.
Board Chair Mark Boren said they may reconsider the stipend in the spring so it could be included in budget considerations. For a smaller district such as Fern Ridge, $500 per month per school board member is a significant portion of the budget.
Boren said a stipend might be right for some districts if they were struggling to fill spots. For him, though, it’s a volunteer job, and he said he would not take a stipend even if the board eventually approved one.
“Any money not going toward educating children is a hit on the budget,” he said.
The La Grande School Board voted Sept. 14 to allow school board members to receive any amount up to $500 as a stipend or to take no stipend at all. Board Chair Randy Shaw and longtime member Merle Comfort told The Observer newspaper they would consider taking a stipend to make up for lost work.
The Eugene and the Brookings-Harbor school boards had stipend agenda items for this week. The Mount Angel School Board was planning to vote in October.
Mount Angel School Board member Mark Brenden said they are considering creating a policy for a stipend but setting the amount at $0.
Brenden said a $0 stipend makes a statement to the community that they could pay themselves but they choose not to. He said the board just passed a bond, and it didn’t seem like a good time for the board to take compensation.
School board service is built on a responsibility to the people who elected them, he said.
“Once you start putting money into it, it muddies the water a bit,” Brenden said.
– Jake Arnold, OSBA
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