The Sweet Home School District announced Thursday, Sept. 4, that the School Board will hold a work session Monday, Sept. 8, prior to its monthly meeting, from 3 to 6 p.m.
The Oregon School Boards Association will facilitate the session, which will focus on general training in board governance and ethics.
The regular board meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
Among other business, board members are scheduled to consider filling Position 8 – at large, vacated by the July 27 resignation of Erin Barstad. For local residents filed applications for the position: Matthew Bechtel, Mindy Cummings, Chris Hiaasen and Jason Redick.
Bechtel ran for the seat that Barstad won in the May 20 election, finishing behind her with 38.62% of the votes (592) to Barstad’s 60.83% (1,090). He serves on the Sweet Home city Park and Tree Committee and Budget Committee, as well as an officer at the Elks Lodge, food pantry director, Mrs. Claus Board adviser and volunteers with the Beautification Committee. He is a U.S. Army veteran. In his application, he said he wanted to join the board because “I believe the experience I have gained from working with multiple committees in Sweet Home has given me a deep connection to the community. This connection is required to regain the trust of the people, amidst the controversy.”
Cummings is a member of the Sweet Home Swim Club Board and a USA Swimming official. She works at the Linn County Assessor’s Office. She said her reason for wanting to join the board is “to serve the community by creating strong, supportive schools that serve every student.”
Hiaasen is a retired teacher and school administrator, most recently at Sweet Home High School, serving on the Site Council, GearUp, Calendar, Curriculum and PBIS committees. She is active at Holley Church and runs a small farm, selling eggs and flowers. She said her reason for wanting to join the board was “to continue to participate in the education community in Sweet Home.”
Redick stepped down as chair of the School Board in June after 20 years on the board, most of them as chair or vice chair. He said his reason for wanting to return to the board is “to bring accountability back to the board and restore the trust of the employees and the community. I want to help stabilize the board. I have no plans to continue past the appointed term.”
After selecting and swearing in a new board member, the board is scheduled to elect a vice chair and a secretary, positions that were vacated at its Aug. 11 meeting.