Why run for the Legislative Policy Committee?
A letter from 2007-08 President-elect Annette Mattson
Dear OSBA members:
At convention, OSBA members overwhelmingly approved the governance changes proposed by the OSBA Governance Committee and forwarded to the membership for a vote by the board of directors. Amending our OSBA Constitution brings important changes and new ways to involve you. Together, we can make OSBA even stronger.
Serving on the OSBA Legislative Policy Committee is one of these opportunities. By helping guide OSBA’s legislative policies and priorities, you’ll play a critical role in the continuing quest to ensure that all Oregon children get the education that best serves them
- and our society. You’ll also be part of the National School Boards Association Federal Relations Network, advocating on behalf of Oregon at the national level.
You witnessed the success of OSBA’s LPC in the most recent legislative session, netting substantially improved education funding and new and better laws. The new LPC needs 19 individuals from throughout Oregon, elected from each of the 14 newly established geographic regions, to join the 19 voting OSBA board members who also serve on the LPC.
The timeline is tight - future LPC elections will be in the fall of odd-numbered years, but this first LPC regional election will occur in April. LPC members elected then will serve from May 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2009.
So please don’t delay. We've provided the timeline and procedures for nominations and elections of Legislative Policy Committee members as well as forms. We look forward to the new process and the rewards it will produce for education, for OSBA and for all of you who choose to participate.
Annette Mattson
OSBA President-elect
David Douglas SD
Position description
The 38-member Legislative Policy Committee develops OSBA’s legislative policies and priorities, which it recommends to the membership for approval at the annual membership meeting in November of even-numbered years. The committee also advises the executive director and staff during legislative sessions and may act on behalf of the association in accordance with those policies. Serving as an LPC member requires several trips to Salem, for which the association pays mileage and associated expenses.
Eligibility
To serve on the Legislative Policy Committee, you must:
-
Be an active member of your local board within the region electing you to the
LPC.
-
Be a member of a local board that is a dues-paying member of OSBA.
-
Be nominated by a local board in the region electing you to the
LPC.
Term of office
The term of office for Legislative Policy Committee members is two calendar years. There is no limit to the number of terms you may serve. LPC members elected in April 2008 will serve May 1, 2008-December 31, 2009. Elections (aside from the first one in 2008) will be held in the fall in odd-numbered years, at the same time as OSBA board elections.
LPC election timetable
Nomination and election of regional members
Jan. 1, 2008
Notice of position vacancies, candidate information packets, and official nomination forms distributed to all incumbent directors and boards in eligible regions.
Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, 2008
A school board nominating one or more regional board members to the LPC must do so by formal resolution of the board and timely submission of official nomination forms to OSBA. Nominations close after Feb. 15.
April 1, 2008
Official ballots distributed to member boards.
April 1 through April 30, 2008
Each member board in the appropriate region shall cast its vote in the regional elections for members of the LPC. Ballots must be received by OSBA by 5 p.m. on April 30.
As soon as possible
If there are more than two candidates nominated for any position, and none receives a majority of the votes cast, a run-off election shall take place between the two candidates receiving the most votes. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes in the run-off shall be elected.
May 1, 2008
Newly elected regional members of the LPC take office.
May 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2009
Term of office for LPC members elected in April 2008.
Nomination process
Local boards in the 14 regions may nominate individuals for vacant positions in that region using the official nomination form
and in accordance with the OSBA Elections Calendar and the following:
-
Candidates must be active members of a local board in the region.
-
Candidates must certify on the candidate questionnaire that they are willing to serve as members of the OSBA Legislative Policy Committee if elected.
-
Nomination must be an official action of a local board in the region.
-
Candidates must complete OSBA LPC Candidate and Personal/Professional Resume forms.
Campaigning
For campaigning purposes only, OSBA will provide candidates with mailing lists of board members in their region, upon request.
OSBA will post a picture and information about each candidate online based on the information supplied on the candidate questionnaire and professional resume.
Candidate conduct
Candidates shall not defame any other candidate through misinformation, gossip, or innuendo. Complaints of non-compliance are to be reported to the OSBA president-elect at
OSBAelections@osba.org.
Essential duties of LPC members
Members of the Legislative Policy Committee have the following responsibilities:
-
Attend LPC meetings in March and May of even-numbered years (between legislative sessions) to review, discuss and develop legislative policies and priorities.
-
Meet during legislative-session years as directed by the LPC chair to discuss legislative issues and the association’s position.
-
Participate in and promote the OSBA/COSA Legislative Conference in February of legislative session years.
-
Initiate contact with and serve as a resource to legislative representatives and senators within their region on public education issues. As requested by OSBA legislative staff, initiate contacts with key legislators about OSBA legislative issues.
-
Serve as an advocate for public education and the OSBA legislative agenda within their region.
-
Demonstrate leadership by promoting legislative advocacy among member school boards within their region in support of public education and the OSBA legislative agenda.
-
Study current public school issues, review current OSBA legislative policies and priorities and, as part of the committee, develop legislative policies and priorities for review at regional meetings and adoption by OSBA members.
-
Serve as a resource at the OSBA annual membership meeting to members participating in the resolutions process.
LPC members shall participate in legislative advocacy and boardsmanship training activities, which include the following:
-
OSBA fall and spring regional meetings in their region.
-
OSBA annual convention and annual membership meeting each November.
-
Other OSBA conferences and training sessions, as possible.
Nomination Form
(20k  )
(Microsoft Word Version 28k)
Candidate Questionnaire (21k )
(Microsoft Word Version
22k)
Candidate Personal/Professional Resume Form (23k )
(Microsoft Word Version
24k)
Questions?
Please contact OSBA if you have questions about nominations or election procedures, 503-588-2800 or 800-578-6722, or e-mail
OSBAelections@osba.org.
If you would like additional information about the activities of OSBA’s Legislative Policy Committee, contact
Tricia Yates
 ,
OSBA Legislative and Public Affairs director.
OSBA's Legislative Policy Development Process
Board of
Directors Election Information
|
