According to the executive director of the Oregon School Boards Association, a two-year attempt to persuade Oregon school boards to endorse the creation of a Pride Caucus was unsuccessful.
The goal of the planned caucus was to give students and district staff who identify as LGBTQ+, as well as school board members who identify as LGBTQ+, a voice.
According to Emielle Nischik, executive director of the public nonprofit organization that represents school boards in the Legislature and provides its members with training and support services, school boards throughout the state voted on the idea between mid-November and mid-December.
Two-thirds of the governing boards of the state’s 197 school districts, 19 education service districts, and 17 community colleges have to approve the proposal in order for it to be approved. Because they serve a greater number of kids, votes from the largest school districts are given a little more weight, according to Nischik.
When everyone returns from their break, we will announce the final tally, but we are aware that it was unsuccessful. According to Nischik, it was rather close.
According to Nischik, a second statewide resolution to increase the dues that each board pays to the organization was approved. According to her, it will be the first time dues have increased in almost 20 years.
For school board members who have spent years creating the foundation, the Pride Caucus results are a disappointment. Katrina Doughty, a member of the Multnomah Education Service District board and a member of the 23-member OSBA board, spearheaded the initiative.
The Pride Caucus, which represents school board members of color and those from rural towns, would have joined the two other caucuses of the school boards association if it had been accepted. In addition to a budget that can be used to cover member expenses for training or meeting travel, caucuses are entitled to a voting seat on the organization’s legislative policy committee and board of directors.
According to Nischik, she believes that Oregon is also affected by the political conflicts surrounding LGBTQ+ issues that have swept the country.
Politically charged issues during the presidential election ranged from opposition to gender-neutral restrooms on campuses to attempts to prohibit transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports. A state regulation requiring menstruation supplies to be in males’ restrooms and efforts to outlaw literature with LGBTQ+ themes have caused controversy in Oregon.
According to Nischik, more members voiced concerns about whether the association’s governance structure was growing too disorganized and disjointed, a problem that some believed might have been made worse by the new caucus’ official recognition.
When the Hood River County School District board voted on the issue in December, board member Jen Kelly expressed the same worry.
Kelly stated at the meeting on December 11 that she disagreed with the creation of any caucus. I have no personal grudges against any of the caucuses, their members, or the causes they support. I worry that the proportion of caucuses to the number of representatives representing complete districts will decrease as the number of caucuses increases.
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According to Kelly, she would rather see caucuses function as advisory committees that might communicate their viewpoints to the association’s board of directors.
According to Nischik, the members of the school board who founded the Pride Caucus have the option to continue serving as an advisory group, offering the board resources, support, and direction. We learned from people all around the state that this is a significant population that requires assistance.
Julia Silverman writes for The Oregonian/OregonLive about K–12 education. You can contact her at [email protected].
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