One regular board meeting should be held monthly at the district’s administrative headquarters or at the nearest practical location, with consideration given to persons with disabilities.

Board Meeting procedures

The rules of parliamentary procedure in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised govern board meetings, except as otherwise provided by state law or board policy.

Board Operating Agreements

Description and examples of board operating agreements

Board secretary

The board secretary provides the board with accurate records of meeting minutes, handles board correspondence, and posts all meetings.

Board self-evaluation

Self-assessment by the board provides valuable information, discussion and communication.

Board service means commitment

As you consider running for your local school board, think about what being a board member means to you, your family and your community.

Board training

The chair should encourage board members to attend professional development.

Board training - workshops

Customized board training, facilitation, consultation and advice

Boards and community engagement

A school board guide to public engagement.

Boardsmanship 101 - Tips for new board members

Congratulations to our newly elected or recently appointed board members! When you take your oath of office at your first board meeting, you are entrusted with one of the most important jobs in your community.

Building consensus

The ability to get people with widely diverse opinions to agree on an issue is a skill that board chairs must develop.

Bullying discussion - 2012 convention hot topic table

Discussion of the board's role in dealing with bullying from the 2012 OSBA Annual Covention hot topics tables.

Can a budget committee member be appointed at a budget committee meeting or does the appointment have to be made at a board meeting?

Question from Ask Betsy

Can a quorum of the board compel board members to attend meetings? We have a minority of members who might not attend a meeting where they will be faced with criticism. The majority of the board wants the minority to attend.

Question from Ask Betsy

Can all of our board members participate in a meeting of our political action committee to promote a bond campaign? If so, do we need to post it as a public meeting?

Question from Ask Betsy

Can the chair call meetings whenever he or she wants, including executive sessions?

Question from Ask Betsy

Can the chair refuse to take a motion? What recourse do other board members have?

Question from Ask Betsy

Can we appoint to our budget committee a person who works part-time for the district, making less than $100 a month?

Question from Ask Betsy

Can we put resolutions on our consent agenda, or do they have to be action items? Do you have to read the entire resolution out loud at a meeting prior to adopting it?

Question from Ask Betsy

Choosing the chair

The selection of the board chair is made no later than the next regular meeting following July 1 each year.

Code of conduct for school board members

This information is from Boardsmanship For Oregon School Board Members, which explains what it takes to be an Oregon school board member.

Communicating during the board meeting

Resources for making a positive impression on the public at board meetings.

Communication with the board and public

The primary role of the chair, other than to run meetings, is to be the voice of the board.

Conducting board meetings

The most important role of the board chair is conducting the meeting.

Conducting paperless board meetings with BoardBook®

Increase community support while saving time and money by streamlining assembly and distribution of meeting notices, packets and minutes.

Contact information for our school board members is not posted on the district’s website. I read in an “Ask Betsy” response that the public can request school board members personal contact information. So, can a public school not publish contact information and only provide such information upon request?

Question from Ask Betsy

Contract language review - the complaint procedure

Complaint-procedure language is often neglected in public education collective bargaining. Too often, board members and school administrators don’t realize they’ve paid it too little attention until it is too late.

Dealing with crisis

Quick tips for communicating during a crisis.

Do we have to put a notice of our board meetings in the newspaper? Do we have to adopt a newspaper of record?

Question from Ask Betsy

Do we have to swear in board members who were re-elected?

Question from Ask Betsy

Edzapp Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for candidates using EdZapp's electronic application system.

Effective boardsmanship

What it takes to be an effective Oregon school board member.

Essential School Board Book Summary

Well-researched, practical strategies to improve student achievement through good governance from The Essential School Board Book by Nancy Walser.

Evaluating the superintendent

What the board needs to know to effectively evaluate the superintendent.

Executive sessions

The board may meet in executive session to discuss subjects allowed by statute but may not take final action, except for specific instances pertaining to student matters.

Freedom of information laws

Oregon’s Public Meetings Laws govern what materials must be made available to the public and which may be withheld.

Graduation and diploma assessment toolkit

A list of sample policies related to assessment of essential skills and Oregon Diploma requirements.

Handling board correspondence

Letters sent to the board of education through the board chair should be shared with other board members.

History of school board elections

Statistical information about school board elections.

How much time does being a good board member require?

The time committment for school board service.

How to become a school board candidate

Information on becoming a school board candidate.

I am an elected school board member and am not up for election this year. Can I write a letter to the editor of the local paper and campaign in other ways in support of two candidates for open seats?

Question from Ask Betsy

If a person does not speak at or attend a Board meeting, but wants their email or written statement in the record as public comment, can/should we do that?

Question from Ask Betsy

If an individual board member wants information from the district about a particular topic, how do they go about requesting and receiving the information?

Question from Ask Betsy

If our board chair resigns as chair yet remains on the board, do we need a resolution to accept that? Or, can the board just accept the resignation and approve a resolution electing another board member as chair?

Question from Ask Betsy

If our board chair resigns as chair yet remains on the board, do we need a resolution to accept that? Or, can the board just accept the resignation and approve a resolution electing another board member as chair?

Question from Ask Betsy

Important principles for board members

Nine principles of a successful school board member.

Is it possible to conduct a public meeting where all board members are in attendance via electronic device (e.g. computer, phone etc.)?

Question from Ask Betsy

Is the board required to approve all extra-duty contracts?

Question from Ask Betsy

Is your school board dysfunctional?

Common denominators in dysfunctional school boards.

July meeting agenda checklist

Checklist of items school boards are mandated to complete to begin each new fiscal year.

Leadership Institute

The demands on board members have grown. Now you can earn certificates of recognition in leadership achievement that reflect your growing importance.

Leadership Oregon 2011

Advanced leadership training for school board members.

Leadership Oregon 2013

Advanced leadership training for school board members.

Leadership Oregon graduates

A list of the most recent Leadership Oregon graduates.

Must executive session minutes be separate from regular session minutes, or can they be contained in the body of the regular session minutes?

Question from Ask Betsy

New board member resources

Resources for New Board Members

One of our board members has volunteered some contracting services to the district, but I believe they would like to pay him for some future services. Is that legal and/or ethical?

Question from Ask Betsy

Online policy manual

Lighten your load with instant, current and searchable access to board policies!

Oregon Lighthouse Project

An introduction to the Lighthouse Project, a research-based curriculum designed to help boards develop leadership in student achievement.

Our board is planning to meet with another school district board to discuss mutual concerns. Are there any special provisions which need to be followed?

Question from Ask Betsy

Our board wants to hold a summer retreat at a meeting facility outside the boundaries of our district. Is this OK?

Question from Ask Betsy

Our board wants to prepare a response to an article in the newspaper. We would like to have our chair send a draft by e-mail, with each of us responding until we get it in a form we can agree on. Is this OK?

Question from Ask Betsy

Our superintendent needs to update board members about staff issues that may turn into grievances. Under what statute can that executive session be held?

Question from Ask Betsy

Pandemic threats

Information about why and how districts should develop and implement pandemic preparedness plans.

Parliamentary procedure

Most meetings follow the rules of parliamentary procedure, which allow the board to make decisions in an orderly manner.

Personal qualities of a board chair

Leadership is an acquired art, not something that comes naturally to all people.

Policy analysis

An analysis is a review and assessment of a school district, education service district or community college board’s policy manual.

Policy and administrative regulation definitions

Answers to the questions what is policy and what is an administrative regulation and why they are important.

Policy Guide for Division 22 Standards

Do you have the policies needed to sign your Division 22 standards assurance?

Policy manual maintenance

Save time and increase productivity with this complete word processing service performed by OSBA.

Policy Plus

Continue your current subscription, pay a monthly fee and receive a desk rewrite at the end of four years!

Policy rewrite

The rewrite process encourages discussions, consensus building and clarification of policy and related issues, resulting in a complete, up-to-date policy manual.

Pressure groups

On rare occasions, a hostile group may approach the board to comment on a decision that the board is considering or has just made.

Public hearings

The board will hold public hearings as required by law.

Public participation at board meetings

The laws governing boards of education require that their work be done where the public can observe their actions.

Reductions in force - the Board's role

An overview of the role of the board and the appropriate process and procedures that are followed by the district administrator for reductions in force.

Robert's Rules simplified

The chair’s guide to running an effective meeting is Robert’s Rules of Order.

Sample administrative regulation: Request for Nonresident Student Admission

Sample optional administrative regulation - a request form for consent by nonresident district only

Sample Oath of Office

New board members must take an oath of office before assuming the duties of office.

Sample opening comments to audience

This opening comment can be used by the board president at the beginning of every open forum or public comment portion to ensure consistency in approach at every meeting.

Sample policy/administrative regulation: IGBA, IGBA-AR, IGBAF, IGBAH and IGBAJ-AR

Sample is updated pursuant to House Bill 2299 that establish new requirements for special education students enrolled in public charter schools

Sample policy: Board Member Ethics Policies

Sample policies establishing ethical standards for board members.

Sample policy: Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying/Cyberbullying/Teen Dating Violence - Student - JFCF, JFCF-AR

Sample policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying, teen dating violence and acts of cyberbullying.

Sample policy: Hazing/Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying/Menacing -- Staff - GBNA and GBNA-AR

OSBA highly recommends districts adopt policies prohibiting hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying and acts of cyberbulling or menacing

Sample policy: Homeless Students - JECBD and JECBD-AR

The district shall ensure that homeless students have equal access to education services.

Sample policy: Nondiscrimination - AC and AC-AR

The district shall promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment.

Sample policy: Reporting of Suspected Abuse of a Child - JHFE and JHFE-AR

Sample policies establishing the district's requirements when abuse of a child is suspected.

Sample policy: Tobacco-Free Environment - GBK/JFCG/KGC

The district's requirements regarding the use of tobacco.

School board elections

Information on how school board elections and filing as a candidate.

Sharing a common vision

The board chair should work to keep the board focused on the school district's vision.

Small district policy rewrite

If you have fewer than 300 students, we offer a special package of sample policies, a subscription to Policy Update, an on-site workshop and phone consultation with policy specialists.

Special board meetings

Special meetings may be convened by the chair, upon request of three board members, or by common consent of all or a majority of the board members.

Superintendent and board chair dialogue

Keeping the lines of communication open between the board chair and the superintendent benefits the entire board and school district.

Superintendent evaluation workbook

A high quality superintendent evaluation process helps develop good board/superintendent relationships, provides clarity of roles, creates common understanding of the leadership being provided and provides a mechanism for public accountability.

Superintendent/President Evaluation

OSBA provides superintendent/president evaluations for K-12, ESD and community colleges.

The board chair and first amendment

When the board chair speaks to an issue, the public and the media assume that the chair’s statement is the opinion of the entire board of education.

The board chair and superintendent

The board chair and the superintendent collaborate on the meeting agenda and other operational issues facing the board.

The board meeting agenda

The agenda, prepared by the board chair and the superintendent, is the most important document at any board meeting.

The District's business manager attended a workshop and was told there could be no discussion of priority lists with corresponding dollar amounts until after the first budget meeting. Is this accurate?

Question from Ask Betsy

The media and your board

The media is interested in what happens at your board meetings, and the media version of your board actions is what most people in your community see (or hear).