OSBA is accepting nominations for all 20 policy committee seats, as well as 12 OSBA Board seats. Board members from school districts, community colleges and education service districts are elected by regions. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 1.
The 2021 legislative session highlighted the power of local school board voices in the Legislature. The virtual sessions made it easier for busy and far-away board members to testify, and it also created new information conduits.
OSBA Legislative Services Director Lori Sattenspiel would like to harness some of that energy with the LPC. She wants to elevate the committee members as key communicators both to the Legislature and back to their communities.
Traditionally, the LPC’s main purpose has been to review and refine priorities for the Legislative Services department.
“We are now going to be asking more of them,” Sattenspiel said. “We will be asking them to get feedback from their regions, to testify and to carry information to their communities.”
Sattenspiel said her department would be working with members to help them create communication plans. She said the role would be especially important in eastern Oregon, where communities often don’t feel their voices are being heard in Salem.
“We want them to help us better advocate for all children, regardless of their ZIP code,” said Sattenspiel.
As the OSBA election season rolls on, some of the familiar signposts are changing in the face of the rampaging COVID-19 delta variant.
OSBA has canceled its annual fall convention. It has also replaced the usual fall regional meetings with in-person listening sessions with OSBA Executive Director Jim Green in the fall and spring. Masking and other safety protocols will be required.
OSBA Legislative Services usually gives an update on the Legislature during fall regional meetings, but this year OSBA staff want to focus on listening to school board concerns.
The sessions will cover current budget and funding, a review of the 2021 session and a 2022 preview. They can also offer a warm-up for board members who want to be more involved through the LPC.
