The Oregon School Boards Association supports and applauds the State Land Board today for its action on the Elliott State Forest. Both new members of the State Land Board, State Treasurer Tobias Read and Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, clearly understand their fiduciary obligations as trustees of the Common School Fund. Both spoke about the need for them as State Land Board members to have an undivided loyalty to the current and future schoolchildren of Oregon. The action taken today moves the Elliott Forest process forward.
OSBA's Executive Director Jim Green praised the steps taken today, saying "Treasurer Read's action in making sure the sale of the Elliott can move forward is encouraging, and we greatly appreciate his efforts. The Elliott State Forest has caused a loss in value to the Common School Fund for several years and to allow that to continue would violate the State Land Board's duty. While this is simply another step in the process, OSBA supports it. We will continue to monitor this process as it moves forward, and OSBA will take all necessary action to ensure that the Common School Fund remains whole and the fund's assets are used for the benefit of Oregon's schoolchildren."
OSBA is a member services organization for more than 200 locally elected boards serving school districts, education service districts and community colleges. It also provides services to charter schools and their boards.
