Board members discussed how to proceed with the upcoming community forums related to the selection of the district’s permanent superintendent. During these sessions, parents, staff, students and other interested community members are invited to provide input on strengths, qualities and priorities for the district’s leader. Public input also will be collected through an online survey.
With the omicron variant spreading in Oregon and COVID-19 cases surging in the local community, state guidance was issued to schools this week advising to hold parent meetings and community events online if possible in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and prioritize the continuation of in-person student instruction.
After discussion, the six board members in attendance (board member Gordon Lafer was absent) voted unanimously to move all of the community forums online, with several caveats. First, the board wants to ensure that community input meets or exceeds the level of public participation it received during the last permanent superintendent selection process in 2015, and may schedule additional community forums if needed to meet this goal. The board will examine available data and consult with Alma Advisory Group, which it hired to assist the recruitment and selection process, before setting that target. Second, the board wants to take steps to ensure people in underserved communities, which may not have reliable access to broadband internet, have the opportunity to participate in the virtual sessions. Lastly, the board said it may hold a second anti-bias training session for the elected body in-person to follow an initial session that will be held online.
The board said in-person events may resume later in the selection process, if public health conditions improve.
Agenda and Materials
January 4 special meeting materials
January 4 special meeting audio recording
January 4 special meeting video recording
NOTE: This is a quick summary of the topics and actions at a meeting of the school board. This document is NOT the official minutes of the school board. Official minutes are posted after they are drafted, reviewed and approved by the board. Audio recordings of meetings are typically posted within two days after the meeting.
School Board Meeting Schedule & Information
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