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Board splits but appoints three to budget committee after heated debate
Summary
After extended debate and multiple motions, the Corvallis School Board on Dec. 11 appointed Cassandra Inman and Chris Blacker to three-year budget-committee terms and Carla L. Wa to a two-year term; the final motion passed 5–2 following concerns about candidate conduct and community engagement.
The Corvallis School Board voted Dec. 11 to appoint members to the district budget committee after a lengthy public and internal debate over candidate selection and committee norms.
Appointments and vote: The final successful motion appointed Cassandra Inman and Chris Blacker to three-year terms ending June 30, 2028, and Carla L. Wa to a two-year term ending June 30, 2027. The motion passed with five votes in favor and two opposed (Sammy and Chris voted no on the final motion).
Board discussion: Board members thanked applicants and staff who reviewed materials. Several trustees supported the slate recommended by district finance staff, noting applicants' qualifications, community involvement and relevant skill sets. Other trustees proposed alternative slates, arguing for additional candidates with academic-budget experience or different community ties.
Concerns aired during debate included whether prospective members would engage constructively with staff and board members and whether prior public remarks might affect productive committee deliberations. One board member raised concerns about a candidate's public tone; others emphasized the importance of welcoming multiple perspectives and providing orientation and conduct expectations for the committee.
Process notes: Finance staff solicited and reviewed applications and recommended a slate for board approval. Trustees discussed adding clearer orientation materials for budget-committee members, including assumptions used for budgeting and a refresher on committee procedures and Robert's Rules of Order. The board agreed to provide additional materials to committee members and to include a district equity-team member in the budget committee if a qualified applicant is available.
What happens next: Newly appointed budget-committee members will begin orientation; staff said they will make assumptions and basis documents available to the committee and consider adding explicit orientation content on committee conduct and budgeting assumptions.
