Advocate asks Oakland board to consider tapping OSBA legal-assistance fund for state trust-lands appeal

Public commenter Dave Sullivan, who said he represents the Oregon Advocates for School Trust Lands, updated the board on a recent legal win now being appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court and asked the district to consider helping fund the appeal through the OSBA legal assistance trust fund.

Sullivan told the board he and his wife have been funding much of the litigation and estimated personal costs of about $40,000 over the last six to seven months. "It's cost us about $40,000 in the last six or seven months," he said in public comment.

Sullivan asked the district to file a formal request to tap the OSBA legal assistance fund; he noted that board action is needed because the fund is restricted to statewide legal issues and release of funds typically requires a formal board request to OSBA.

A board member said they had only just received Sullivan’s materials and would first check whether using the OSBA fund could expose the district to adverse attention from the state; the board member said they would make a few phone calls before bringing the matter back. The superintendent said he would investigate OSBA rules and the potential consequences and, if the request is appropriate, put an item on next month’s agenda for formal action.

No formal referral or vote occurred at the March meeting. Board members asked staff to verify whether the district’s participation in the legal assistance fund is permissible without creating unwanted exposure and to provide recommended next steps for an April agenda item.