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Board delays counselor hire and restructure while seeking legal advice on part-time benefits
Summary
The Dufur SD 29 board postponed approval of a proposed counseling restructure and the hire of Judy Ford, asking for legal guidance on whether splitting one 1.0 FTE into multiple part-time appointments with full benefits could create legal or precedent risks under collective-bargaining rules.
The Dufur SD 29 School Board voted unanimously to postpone action on a proposed counseling restructure and the hire of Judy Ford until it obtains legal guidance on benefits and public-employee compensation rules. Board member Dave moved to delay the hire pending PECPA (public employees compensation) advice; the motion passed without opposition.
Staff presented a plan to redistribute counseling duties in 2026–27 so Tiffany would serve grades 6–12 and Judy would serve pre-K–5, with the district removing SEL specials to allow counselors to push into classrooms. The staff presenter said the plan would "provide direct in classroom support to students and teachers" and included licensure checks with Oregon Department of Education and TSPC. Judy Ford, who introduced herself at the meeting as an applicant for the counselor position, told the board she is "nearing completion of my master's degree in school counseling" and would serve under a restricted school counselor license until program completion.
Several board members objected to the financial structure: although the plan gives the district two named staff, it would represent a single 1.0 FTE split into part-time assignments with benefits. One member said the district was "down to 1 FTE" and questioned why the district would "pay more money for the same position." Concerns included lack of contract details presented to the board and whether previous instances of benefit arrangements for part-time staff created an informal precedent. The chair and other members emphasized the need to ensure the district does not create unintended obligations under the CBA or open the door to comparability claims by certified staff.
Board members asked administration to obtain clarifying legal advice and report back before moving forward. The motion to postpone specifically requested review under public-employee compensation rules; the chair framed the decision as a step to "make sure that we're moving through it correctly without getting ourselves into some labor practice issues." The board did not adopt the hiring motion at the meeting and expects to revisit the item after counsel's guidance.
