Voices of experience resume OSBA leadership
OSBA Board elections closed Thursday, settling two contested races and returning 10 incumbents.
Incumbent Dawn Watson of the Phoenix-Talent School District won a three-person race for position 5, the Southern Region, and incumbent Miriam Cummins of the Linn Benton Lincoln Education Service District won a two-person race for position 10, the Linn/Benton/Lincoln Region.
Oregon school boards also overwhelmingly approved the “Legislative Priorities and Principles” resolution to guide OSBA’s work with legislators.
OSBA Board members provide guidance to the association and stand as student advocates in their communities and the Legislature. With the 2023 Legislature tackling issues including student mental health, academic recovery and workforce shortages in the face of a tight state budget, expert local viewpoints will be in high demand.
With the completion of the election, OSBA has its officers and most of its board ready to take their seats Jan. 1. President-elect Sonja McKenzie of the Parkrose SD, who was selected in 2021, will take over as president, and current President Scott Rogers of the Athena-Weston SD will become past president.
Three new officers chosen in September will settle in: President-elect Sami Al-Abdrabbuh of the Corvallis SD, Vice President Chris Cronin of the Grant ESD and Secretary-Treasurer Bill Graupp of the North Marion SD.
This year, all odd-numbered positions except position 19 (Multnomah) were up for two-year terms, and positions 8 (Clackamas), 10 (Linn/Benton/Lincoln), 12 (Marion) and 16 (Washington) were open for one-year terms. Incumbents filled eight of those spots unchallenged:
• Chris Cronin, position 1 (Eastern)
• Patti Norris of the Crook County SD, position 3 (Central)
• Chrissy Reitz of the Hood River County SD, position 8 (Clackamas)
• Jackie Crook of the South Coast ESD, position 9 (Douglas/South Coast)
• Bill Graupp, position 12 (Marion)
• Susan Greenberg of the Beaverton SD, position 15 (Washington)
• Maureen Wolf of the Northwest Regional ESD, position 16 (Washington)
• Katrina Doughty of the Multnomah ESD, position 17 (Multnomah)
Positions 7 (Clackamas), 11 (Marion) and 13 (Yamhill/Polk) did not receive candidates. The OSBA board will appoint the positions for a term that runs through Dec. 31, 2023. Candidates must be members of the governing board of a school district, education service district or community college in the region with the vacancy. Board members interested in applying should contact Jane Leonhardt at jleonhardt@osba.org for application materials before Thursday, Dec. 22.
- Jake Arnold, OSBA
jarnold@osba.org