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Board reviews first reading to designate a district civil-rights coordinator; legal review ordered
Summary
The board discussed OSBA-recommended policy language to designate a district civil-rights coordinator (Jen Patterson Durham named in materials) and add Title IX language; members raised concerns about qualifications, unfunded workload and whether the role should be explicit in board policy. Staff will send language to OSBA for legal review.
Mr. Hovach presented two policy updates recommended by the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA): policy AC to designate a district civil-rights coordinator and policy GBNJBA to update harassment and Title IX coordinator language. The staff information sheet names Jen Patterson Durham as the designated coordinator in the draft materials. "I've already assigned that position to Jen Patterson Durham who's the principal over at Hillside Elementary School," Mr. Hovach said.
Board members probed why the designation should appear in board policy rather than remain an administrative assignment, whether adding it creates an unfunded mandate and whether the coordinator should be required to be an administrator or otherwise meet specific qualifications. One board member (Emily) said she voted no on the recommendation because the language could allow any district employee to be designated and she feared the district might be obligated to add unfunded responsibilities. "I voted no on this ... I felt like it was an unfunded mandate," she said.
Speaker 11 (who cited on-screen materials) pointed board members to statutory language and an ORS reference shown during the presentation (transcribed as "ORS 5810210660") for coordinator duties and training requirements. Board members noted much of the coordinator work (postings, compliance checks, contact information) is already happening in practice and discussed whether HR could hold the duty versus an administrator being preferred to ensure authority and time to respond.
The board asked staff to verify whether adding qualifications and requiring administrator-level assignment is permissible under law. Staff agreed to send the proposed policy language to Spencer at OSBA for legal review and to report back. "I will move that to legal at OSBA," Speaker 11 said, and the board agreed to return with clarified language before final adoption.
The item was a first reading; no final adoption or vote on the policy language was recorded.
