Tomorrow, on Tuesday, April 18, there will be a public hearing on a bill that would make a small but significant change to school board service. Currently, school board service in Oregon is entirely volunteer. House Bill 2753, scheduled in the Senate Committee on Education, would allow school boards to give board members a stipend of up to $500 each month.
The bill’s chief sponsor and policy architect is Rep. Ben Bowman (D-Tigard). In addition to his current service as a first-term legislator, Bowman is a member of the Tigard-Tualatin School Board. In conversation with OSBA, he was quick to point to the problem that this bill is trying to solve: the cost of school board service on school board members.
The evidence? Bowman cited a 2022 report from the non-profit School Board Partners called “Empty Seats at Powerful Tables.” The report states that “nearly ¾ of school board members nationally do not plan to run for reelection.” Furthermore, “school board members are often undercompensated for the 10-30 hours a week they spend on their board responsibilities and activities. This is unsustainable.”
Bowman told OSBA that this challenge, one that he’s experienced in his school board service, is why he is championing the bill.
As for the measure’s actual text, Bowman wants to be clear that this would be a local decision that would be entirely optional. “There is no requirement in this bill.” Bowman told OSBA. “There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution in this bill. There is no unfunded mandate in this bill. It simply offers a choice. The bill adds a tool to the toolbox to help make board service more accessible for more people, especially working parents.”
The bill’s text conforms with Bowman’s description. The bill makes it clear that a district board may choose to offer the stipend, and that even if a stipend is offered, a board member may elect not to receive it. The stipend does increase over time, based upon inflation. And to avoid potential unforeseen problems, the bill states clearly that school board members receiving the stipend are not considered school district employees. This change is intended to ensure that board members are not mistakenly unable to serve on their boards if they accept the stipend, and comes as a result of discussions with OSBA.
Nationally, school board service is generally unpaid. But there are some school districts that offer stipends or even salaries, notably the Los Angeles Unified School District, where elected school board members receive a salary of $125,000 annually. In Oregon, some other local governments already have this ability, including stipends for city council positions.
In the initial hearing in early February, many school board members submitted testimony, and the feedback was mixed. Some cited the need that they face, and the benefits to school board diversity. Others were concerned about the cost, and the effect of drawing resources away from already-underfunded school communities.
The hearing is tomorrow. If you want the Senate Education Committee’s members to consider your testimony, consider using this link to submit your thoughts directly. HB 2753 is the sort of bill that needs testimony from school board members.
-Richard Donovan
Legislative Services Specialist
