Local boards vote on state resolutions

ONTARIO — The three largest school districts in Malheur County, which are all members of the Oregon School Boards Association, have submitted their votes on three resolutions for the state organization. How local boards voted is a mixed bag.

Resolution one would increase the dues that the districts pay to be part of the organization.

Resolution two would change the “Oregon LGBTQIA2S+ School Board Members Advisory Committee” to a “PRIDE Caucus” and give the caucus a representative on the OSBA Board of Directors and Legislative Policy Committee.

Resolution three seeks to make a number of changes to the organization’s bylaws.

Following is how local boards voted.

Vale

On Dec. 11, the Vale School Board of Directors unanimously voted against all three resolutions, according to an email Dec. 12 from Superintendent Alisha McBride.

Ontario

Ontario School Board Directors Brett Uptmor, Mike Blackaby, Blanca Rodriguez and Matt Stringer voted unanimously against the first two resolutions on Oct. 28 and opted to put off the third resolution to the November meeting, where it was turned down unanimously.

Nyssa

The Nyssa School Board of Directors held an open roll call vote for the resolutions at its Dec. 9 meeting. Previously in the Dec. 2 work session, it was stated by Chairwoman Pat Morinaka that the board would vote to approve consensus at the regular meeting. The proposed consensus vote would have been based on paper ballots that were collected from the four board members present at the work session. Morinaka stated that the Board Secretary Megan Glenn would tabulate the votes and report if there was any discretion. Board members “Donnie” Ballou, Maribel Ramirez and Megan Robbins were absent from the work session on Dec. 2 but present for the Dec. 9 meeting where an open roll call vote was held on every resolution.

On the first resolution to increase the OSBA dues, Vice Chairwoman “Susie” Ramos moved to approve the resolution, seconded by Jazmine Ramirez. Dustin Martinsen, Robbins, and Maribel Ramirez opposed the motion which passed 4-3.

On the second resolution to establish the PRIDE Caucus, Ramos moved and Jazmine Ramirez seconded to approve the resolution. Ballou and Martinsen voted against the measure which passed 5-2.

On the last resolution to adopt amendments to the OSBA bylaws, Ramos motioned, seconded by Robbins to approve the resolution. Jazmine Ramirez voted in favor, but Ballou, Martinsen, Morinaka, and Maribel Ramirez voted against the motion and it failed 4-3.

Other districts

The Adrian School Board voted on the resolutions on Dec. 11. According to an email from the Superintendent Nick Ketterling on Dec. 12, the board voted unanimously in favor of the first resolution and unanimously against the second and third resolutions. 

The Annex School Board voted on the resolutions on Dec. 10. According to an email from Superintendent Kim Voile on Friday morning, the board unanimously turned down all three resolutions.