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Board Meeting Information
Welcome
Welcome to this meeting of your Gresham-Barlow School District Board of Directors!
You, as a taxpayer, are a stockholder in one of the top school districts in the state. We eagerly seek your involvement in the Gresham-Barlow schools to help us build on the vitality, strengths, and achievements of this district.
Please take this opportunity to share your views with school board members. Time is set aside during each school board meeting to hear the views of citizens, staff, and students.
Board members represent you. They want to hear your thoughts and comments to help them make decisions which reflect the needs of the community. Board members welcome all communications—written and oral.
Thank you for joining us. |
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| Where does the Board meet? |
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| The board meets in the Council Chambers of the Public Safety and Schools building at 1331 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham, Oregon, unless otherwise announced. |
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| When does the Board meet? |
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The Gresham-Barlow School Board generally meets at 7 pm on the first Thursday of each month. Some months the board meets on an alternate night when there is a conflict on the first Thursday date.
2008-09 Board Meeting Schedule (PDF) |
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| What does the Board do in executive session? |
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| During an executive session, the board may discuss confidential matters such as personnel negotiations and the sale or purchase of property (ORS 192.660). Board members do not make decisions or vote in executive sessions. |
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| What is the Board's role? |
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The seven member school board is responsible for providing an educational program for the district's 11,800 students.
The main job of the Board is to set district policy and planning priorities upon which all administrative actions are based.
Board members also are responsible for hiring the superintendent. In turn, the superintendent is responsible for carrying out board decisions, providing educational leadership, and managing the district's budget and staff.
School board members are elected officials and serve without pay. They do not have offices in school district buildings. |
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| How can I speak to the Board? |
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Anyone can speak at a board meeting. Just call the superintendent's office,
(503) 618-2444, in advance. Or fill out a yellow request form (available at the meeting) and give it to the board's secretary. Citizens are generally asked to make their remarks during the agenda item, Citizens' Requests of the Board, but public response may also be invited as the board considers individual agenda items.
When you begin to speak, please state your name, address, and any organization you are representing. This identifies you to the board and to the audience.
The board follows an agenda to cover all of the business it must deal with at each meeting. Sometimes this means the board chairperson must limit public communication so everyone may have a chance to speak.
If you have a copy of your comments in writing, the board would be happy to receive it. Please also provide a copy for the board secretary; your witten comments will be retained permanently with the board meeting minutes. |
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| Why don't Board members ask me questions when I speak? |
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Lack of response at the time you testify doesn't mean lack of interest. Board members listen carefully to testimony and later gather additional information about the issues you are raising. In almost all cases, the board will respond to your testimony and will fully consider your testimony before taking action.
Please attend board meetings often to get to know board members and to keep informed about current educational issues. |
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| Are there other ways I can express my views? |
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Speaking at a board meeting is not the only way to let board members know your views on an issue. You may also:
• Call or write a school board member;
• Email the board;
• Talk to a board member or administrator following the board meeting or during a break;
• Call the superintendent's office at (503) 618-2444 or the director of district and community relations at (503) 618-2834;
• Write the superintendent:
Gresham-Barlow School District
1331 NW Eastman Parkway
Gresham, OR 97030-3825 |
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| Where can I get more information? |
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Superintendent's Office .....................(503) 618-2444
District and Community Relations ... (503) 618-2834
Fax District Office (General)..............(503) 661-1589
Fax Superintendent's Office ..............(503) 666-9533 |
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