TTSD board to crosswalk bills to draft legislative priorities, delay formal adoption
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Summary
After a work session, the Tigard‑Tualatin board directed staff to map (crosswalk) bills that drop during the short legislative session to a draft priorities framework and return for a second read before any formal adoption, while members debated specificity and potential constraints.
Board members at the Tigard‑Tualatin School District meeting debated whether to adopt a regional set of legislative priorities compiled in a work session and ultimately directed staff to crosswalk incoming bills to the draft framework before bringing the document back for a second read.
Directors described four headline priorities discussed in the prior work session: reduce PERS costs to free dollars for students, strengthen financial stability and rainy‑day fund access, secure funding for students with high‑cost disabilities, and clarify school accountability processes and local agency in accountability measures. The superintendent summarized those priorities and said they reflect common concerns across Washington County districts.
Some directors, including Director Weston, urged a blank‑slate or more granular approach — requesting bill numbers, sponsors and exact language — to make the district’s advocacy actionable during the short 35‑day session. Others argued there is strength in adopting a common countywide framework that allows multiple districts to present coherent priorities to legislators.
Director concerns included whether adoption could limit the board’s ability to support later bills (for example, an ICE‑notification proposal or a ‘school meals for all’ bill). The board resolved those concerns by asking staff to perform a crosswalk: when bills drop, staff will map each bill to the framework and return to the board for a second read and possible vote. Formatting and presentation improvements were also requested so key bullets are more prominent when presented to partners or the public.
No formal adoption vote occurred; the board’s direction was procedural: prepare the crosswalk, track bills as they are introduced, and then present a refined package for potential formal adoption.