Board Meetings

The Board Chair presides over the meeting and moves the session through the agenda. The public sessions are governed by Robert’s Rules of Order. To take action on any item, a quorum (4 or more) of the Board must be present and at least four (4) of those members present must vote in favor of the item. The Superintendent and members of the Cabinet attend all meetings to assist the Board but do not have a vote. The Board Secretary keeps a record of all public sessions.

Special meetings and work sessions, also open to the public, are scheduled when needed. These sessions provide an opportunity for the School Board to examine specific issues more thoroughly.

Executive sessions, in accordance with Oregon law, are closed to the public. Some items the Board may discuss in executive session include: personnel matters, collective bargaining, property purchases, discussion with legal counsel, students’ confidential records, and expulsion of students. News media representatives may attend, but cannot report on these meetings. Any actions resulting from discussion in executive session must be taken in a public session. Notices of all meetings and meeting agendas are given to local news media and are distributed to all school offices.

The agenda is arranged to address three major categories of business:

CONSENT AGENDA consists of routine items such as previous board minutes and routine personnel transactions. Normally, there is little or no discussion on these items.

ACTION ITEMS are addressed individually by the Board and usually include a report and recommendation from a district administrator.

REPORTS are presented for the Board’s information and require no formal action.

Speaking to an Agenda Item:

The Board encourages your comments! By hearing from the public, the Board is able to make better-informed decisions.

Visitors who wish to speak to any agenda item may do so under “Public Participation.” If your intent is to influence a decision on any agenda item, be certain to speak on your issue prior to the board addressing the item during the first “Public Participation” opportunity. In addition, audience members who wish to comment on specific agenda items may be called upon by the Board Chair at the appropriate time, if your interest is known in advance.

When Speaking to the Board Remember To:

1. State your name and address at the start of your testimony. Identify the organization, if any, that you represent.
2. Remarks may be limited to 2 minutes per person. To provide additional input to the Board, members of the public are encouraged to email directors. Email addresses can be found on the School Board page. 
3. Complaints about specific teachers, administrators or other staff members can not be discussed in open session. By law and public contract, the District must process these matters through a special complaint procedure. The Superintendent or any member of the Administrative Staff can get you a copy of the complaint procedure and explain how it works.

Public participation is not intended as a forum for public debate.

Questions raised may require further study or investigation by individual Board members, Board committees, the Superintendent or Administrative Staff. 

Normally, the Board will wait until it has considered the results of any investigation or reports on the issue raised before taking any action.

Comments on items not on the agenda may be presented during “Public Participation” at the beginning of the meeting.

Non-agenda items discussed are not likely to receive Board action. If you would like to see an item placed on the agenda, discuss it with the Superintendent’s office at least one week prior to the Board meeting.

An agenda for regular Board meeting is prepared by the Superintendent and a copy given to each Board member at least 24 hours before the meeting.

Copies of the agenda may be obtained from the District Office as early as the Monday before the scheduled meeting.

Agendas will always be available for visitors at the start of each school board meeting.

The Roseburg Public Schools’ Superintendent is hired by the Board.

The Superintendent acts as the Board’s executive officer in administering its policies for operation of the schools. The Superintendent is available to the Board as a professional consultant and advises the Board on the needs and programs of the schools.

In responding to public concerns or input, the Board usually acts through the Superintendent and Administrative Staff.

The Roseburg Public Schools is governed by a seven member Board of Directors elected by the district’s registered voters.

The Board is a policy-making body and, within the framework of Oregon law, establishes policies that direct the school district; exercises control over the District’s educational financial duties; approves an annual budget and all expenditures; negotiates with employee groups to determine salaries and benefits; employs personnel; approves curriculum, textbooks, and courses of study; oversees transportation; determines the long-range direction of the District; and communicates with the community.

Board members cannot act individually in the name of the Board. Action can take place only when the Board is meeting in formal session with a majority of the members present. The Board realizes that it has an obligation to the patrons of the Roseburg Public Schools to plan the best possible program of education and to expend revenues wisely. The Board also is aware that it has the unique function to represent the schools to the community and the community to the schools.

The seven Board members are elected ”at large” from the district to serve four-year terms. Terms are staggered so that under normal conditions no more than four positions become vacant in the same year.

To be eligible for election, a person must be a qualified voter and reside in the district for one year immediately preceding the election. Members of the Board serve without pay. Terms of office begin and end with the district’s fiscal year, July 1. Officers of the Board are elected annually at the first regular meeting.