OSBA Board fills two regional positions

Salem-Keizer School Board Chair Ashley Carson Cottingham (left) and Dayton School Board member Kraig Albright (right)

The OSBA Board on Thursday night filled two of its regional vacancies and appointed a person to the Legislative Policy Committee.  

In a virtual meeting, Dayton School Board member Kraig Albright was named to Board position 13 (Yamhill/Polk region), and Salem-Keizer School Board Chair Ashley Carson Cottingham was named to position 11 (Marion). 

The OSBA Board provides guidance for the association’s work, and members are advocates for students in their communities and with the Legislature. The 2023 Legislature opening Jan. 17 promises to be a weighty one for education advocates. Legislators will be tackling issues including adequate school funding, student mental health, academic recovery and workforce shortages in the face of a tight state budget. 

The Legislative Policy Committee helps set OSBA’s agenda for legislative sessions, and its members also act as communication bridges between their communities and Salem. Central School Board member Susan Graham was appointed to Legislative Policy Committee position 13 (Yamhill/Polk). 

The appointed terms run through Dec. 31, but the new members can run in the fall election for another term.

The OSBA Board still needs to fill vacancies for Board position 7 (Clackamas) and Legislative Policy Committee positions 7 (Clackamas), 12 (Marion) and 20 (Washington). 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.

- Jake Arnold, OSBA
jarnold@osba.org