Become a Board Member

• Public education advocate       
• Skilled decision maker
• Willing to devote time and energy to your volunteer position
• Courage to stand up for your convictions
• Team player
• Understanding the board’s role is governance and the role of the superintendent and her team is to manage the operations of the district. 

It varies. School board service involves a substantial time commitment as an unpaid volunteer. Tigard-Tualatin School Board typically meets twice a month; you will also need to study the agenda packet prior to the meeting. There are also committee meetings, work sessions and appearances. During these past two years, the board has had an unusually high level of commitments as the board met regarding the implementation of the Student Success Act,  COVID-19/Ready Schools Safe Learning as well as our commitment focused on Equity & Inclusion and the Role of SROs in our schools. Attend one of the board’s virtual meetings to learn more!

Board members are elected to four-year terms. You must be a registered voter and you must have lived in the district for one year immediately preceding the election. School district employees elected to serve on their board must give up district employment to sit on the board.

The next election is May 16, 2023. 

The filing period opens: date TBD; candidates must file in Washington and Clackamas Counties. Prospective candidates can file in one of two ways:

1. Submit a petition containing the signatures of 25 registered voters or 10 percent of the registered voters in the district, whichever is less
2. Submit a declaration of candidacy with a $10 filing fee

Through workshops and conferences, Oregon School Boards Association equips school board members with the leadership training they need to perform at their best. OSBA provides candidates resources to learn more about being a board member.

Board candidate campaigns range from simple to sophisticated. One common element, however, is the state requirement for reporting campaign finances. State law limits the sources and amounts of contributions and the purposes for which those contributions may be spent. Contact the Secretary of State Elections Division online or at (503) 986-1518 for guidance.

OSBA helped establish the Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus in 2016. Caucus members have identified their mission as “to promote quality education for all students with emphasis on the unique needs of students of color.”

Oregon Futures Lab and its partners uplift leaders of color to enter public office and govern effectively.