Voting period opens in November for OSBA board and resolutions
The nominating process for positions on the OSBA Board of Directors begins Aug. 21. Over the next four months, local school boards will choose 11 regional representatives for the OSBA board and all the Legislative Policy Committee members.
The OSBA Board of Directors is made up of 21 positions covering 14 geographic regions. Candidates must be nominated by local boards through official board action. OSBA will be sending out emails to board members with all the information they need for the process.
Boards have until Sept. 29 to submit formal nominations to OSBA. Beginning in November, school board members will individually vote on which candidate to support, and then the board as a whole will get one vote for a regional candidate to the OSBA board.
OSBA Fall Regionals held Sept. 14 to Oct. 26 are a good opportunity to meet the candidates.
School board members will also vote on OSBA policies and resolutions, including a change in OSBA’s organizational status.
The Oregon School Boards Association was created in 1946 as a voluntary association. More than a year ago, an organizational review began looking at OSBA’s tax status. It was determined that OSBA should formally incorporate under ORS Chapter 65 as a nonprofit to maintain the association’s tax-exempt status.
Becoming a nonprofit clarifies OSBA’s legal status while allowing OSBA to continue its legislative advocacy. For most members, the change will have little effect, but it will mean that charter schools will no longer be allowed to join OSBA as associate members. Charter schools will still be able to receive services, though, by working through their sponsoring districts.
The OSBA Board of Directors will vote on the necessary bylaw changes in mid-September and then submit a resolution for members to vote on. OSBA offers answers to frequently asked questions.
Because it is an odd-numbered year, OSBA is electing even-numbered board positions to two-year terms, with some exceptions. Position 8 will not be up for election because Board President Betty Reynolds holds the seat and she will automatically become past president after the elections. Positions 3 (Central), 7 (Clackamas) and 17 (Multnomah) are up for one-year terms after changes with their seat-holders.
The even-numbered regional positions are Gorge (2), Southeast (4), Lane (6), Linn/Benton/Lincoln (10), Marion (12), North Coast (14), Washington (16) and Multnomah (18).
All 19 Legislative Policy Committee positions are up for election, with Chris Brantley in Marion and Kent Zook in Multnomah ineligible to run again. The Legislative Policy Committee is made up of the voting members of the OSBA Board of Directors and 19 representatives from 14 regions. Members serve two-year terms and help develop OSBA’s legislative approach.
See the OSBA Elections Center for more information.
- Jake Arnold, OSBA
jarnold@osba.org