The OSBA Board of Directors has approved a resolution to establish a Rural School Board Members Caucus, setting up a vote by member boards on the issue.
The OSBA Board unanimously approved the action Saturday at a meeting in Hood River. Local boards will have the opportunity to vote on the resolution during the election season (Nov. 15 to Dec. 15) as they also consider candidates for OSBA Board seats and the Legislative Policy Committee. More information can be found at the OSBA Election Center webpage.
The rural caucus is patterned after the Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus, which OSBA established in 2016. Under the proposed bylaws, the caucus will have regional representatives, and one rural caucus representative would gain a voting seat on the OSBA Board.
Proposed bylaws would also establish definitions of what constitutes a rural district, based on overall population or population density. All education service districts would be eligible, and districts not meeting rural definitions could appeal for caucus admission.
“We basically want to be inclusive rather than exclusive,” said Chris Cronin (Grant ESD), one of the Board members who has worked closely on establishing the rural caucus.
In other action, the OSBA Board approved its officers for 2024. President will be Sami Al-Abdrabbuh (Corvallis SD), president-elect will be Cronin, vice president will be Emily Smith (Helix SD), incoming secretary-treasurer is Dawn Watson (Phoenix-Talent SD), and Sonja McKenzie (Parkrose SD) will serve as past president.
