School Board

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Aug 11 2026

School Board Meetings School Board Meeting

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Bend-La Pine Schools Education Center - 520 NW Wall Street, Bend

Our School Board

Seven community members make up the Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors. Board members are elected by voters community-wide and represent the entire school district; however, they must reside in one of five zones or be elected as At-Large. Registered voters elect board members for terms of four years. The school board has governance responsibilities in four areas: vision, accountability, policy and advocacy. The school board believes that effective public school education must be directed toward common needs of all children and must also consider the unique differences and needs of individual children.

If you would like to bring feedback, questions or concerns to the school board’s attention, there are a variety of ways your voice can be heard. You can attend a school board meeting and share your thoughts during the public comment section of the meeting. You can submit a message to the school board, which is an electronic communication directly to the full board and superintendent. You can always send a letter to the school board at 520 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon, 97703. The school board is committed to open governance and transparent communication that includes listening to stakeholders, students, staff, parents/families and community members.

Community engagement is a vital part of our school district’s success. Community members who have feedback or concerns for the school district (regarding operations) or school board (regarding policy, goals, and budget) are encouraged to contact the person closest to the situation first to have their issue addressed most effectively and efficiently.

Contact the School Board

The Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors value communication from parents, staff, student, and community members as it helps to guide the work of the Board and Bend-La Pine Schools. The school board is interested in hearing from you. Please use this communications method to send an electronic message to the entire school board, superintendent and deputy superintendent.

The Board of Directors appreciates you taking the time to share you questions, concerns, and ideas. Please know that all members of the Board read every message they receive. The Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors works through the best possible avenue to address each issue; therefore, messages sent to the Board will be discussed at the Board level if appropriate, or forwarded to the best District administrator if that is the appropriate level for resolution.

While individual board email addresses are not withheld from the public, they are not listed on our website. This is intended to encourage the use of the contact form below so all board members, the superintendent and deputy superintendent uniformly and simultaneously receive comments or concerns from the public.

Community engagement is a vital part of our school district’s success. Community members who have feedback or concerns for the school district (regarding operations) or school board (regarding policy, goals, or budget) are encouraged to contact the person closest to the situation first to have their issue addressed most effectively and efficiently.

Required

Meet the Board Members

Jenn Lynch

Zone 1

Marcus LeGrand

Zone 2

Cameron Fischer

Vice Chair / Zone 3

Shirley Olson

Zone 4

Amy Tatom

Board Chair / Zone 5

Ross Tomlin

Zone 6

Kina Chadwick

Zone 7

City of Bend Board Member Zone Map

South County and Bend Board Member Zone Map

Becoming a Board Member

Any registered voter who currently lives in and has lived within the Bend-La Pine Schools (BLS) attendance boundary for at least one year immediately preceding the election is eligible to run for a position on the School Board. School district employees elected to serve on the board must give up employment with the district to serve.

Deschutes County Election Info - Election Information

Additional Support:
BLS Becoming a Board Member
Remaking Governance by John Carver
Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) Get on Board Resources

School Board 2025-26, standing in front of Ed Center

Mission, Vision, & Organizational Goals

Purpose

The Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors operates under a Policy Governance framework inspired by a modified version of the Carver model. This approach ensures clarity of roles, accountability, and alignment with the district’s mission. The Board governs by establishing broad policy direction and desired outcomes for students and the community, while delegating operational authority to the Superintendent. Through this model, the Board maintains focus on long-term vision and student success, reflects community values, and monitors progress toward goals while empowering the Superintendent to manage day-to-day operations.

Mission

Vision

Organizational Goals

The Organizational Goals define the Board’s highest priorities and provide a clear framework for guiding its work throughout the year. These goals translate the district’s mission and values into focused outcomes for students and the community, ensuring that Board actions remain strategic, accountable, and aligned with long-term vision. By centering decision-making and oversight on these goals, the Board maintains clarity of purpose, fosters transparency with the community, and supports the Superintendent in advancing the success and well-being of all students.

Students are engaged and develop a strong academic foundation.
Students have a passion, purpose, and plan for their future.
Students, families, and staff experience wellness, inclusion, and belonging in our schools.
Operational systems align and support an academically effective and sustainable organization.

Board Meetings

Bend-La Pine Schools' Board of Directors Meeting Schedule:

Regular Board Meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of each month during which regular business is completed, actions are taken and public comment is received.
Work Sessions are typically held on the fourth Tuesday of each month during which the Board engages in discussion on key Board work and initiatives.

Meetings are held in the Boardroom of the Bend-La Pine Schools Education Center, 520 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon; unless otherwise noted.

School Board Meetings

View complete Regular Board Meetings

View Board Meeting Recaps with Dr. Cook

View School Board Recognition Presentations

Agendas and Minutes

Accessibility

Attendance

Public Comment

The role of the Board of Directors is to actively listen to and reflect on public comments. Each person wishing to address the Board must sign-up individually for the Public Comment period on business meeting agendas and may provide their comments either in-person or virtually.

Advance sign up for public comment is encouraged. To provide public comment, please complete the Google Form linked here. The form will open the Friday prior to the meeting date, or after public meeting notice has been made, and will be open for sign up until 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. If assistance is required to complete the form, please contact the District Office, 541-355-1000.

Individuals may also sign up for public comment in person on the day of the meeting on a space available basis in alignment with Governance Process 6 (GP-6). In-person sign up will be accepted until 5:35 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

The guidelines for public comment emphasize respect and consideration of others. Public Comment allows the Board and Superintendent to hear issues of interest, but does not allow an opportunity for dialogue between the speaker, Board, or Superintendent. The Board may ask staff to follow up on public comments or questions raised during the public comment period.

Complaints about individual employees should follow the District Complaint Process.

Public comment at any time:

The Board of Directors values your input. Constituents are encouraged to submit questions, concerns, or kudos via the School Board contact form under Contact the School Board (above). All members of the Board will read and review your correspondence.

Board Operating Agreement

Purpose of Agreement

The Board of Directors and Superintendent must function as a cohesive leadership team. To ensure unity in purpose and clarity in process, effective group agreements and expectations must be in place. The following are the group agreements and expectations for the Bend-La Pine Schools’ Board of Directors and Superintendent.

Collaborative Governance Agreements

Members of the Board and the Superintendent shall work together as a team, modeling lifelong learning and collaboration.
Board Members shall place the District’s mission, vision, and goals above personal interest.
Board Members shall follow a modified version of Carver’s Policy Governance Model.
Board Members shall recognize and respect the Superintendent’s responsibility to manage the school district and to direct employees in District and school matters.
Board Members shall carefully consider issues brought to the Board by individuals and District leadership, listening to all perspectives.
Board Members shall maintain appropriate confidentiality with district information.
The Superintendent shall respect the Board’s responsibility to establish policy, and the Board shall respect the Superintendent’s responsibility to manage the District.

Communication Agreements

Board Members shall follow the chain of command and communicate directly with the Superintendent when a question, concern, or complaint is voiced by a staff member, student, parent/guardian, or community member.
Board Members shall communicate directly with the Superintendent or Board Chair prior to meetings of the Board to address questions and/or concerns about agenda items. When possible, they shall communicate at least one business day prior to the meeting.
Board Members and the Superintendent shall communicate individually, as appropriate, when an individual concern arises with any member of the Board/Superintendent team.
The Superintendent shall communicate directly with the Board in a regularly established scheduled process for information sharing.
The Superintendent shall communicate with the Board in anticipation of an adverse event or adverse media coverage, and/or when a serious incident involving staff, students, parents/guardians, or community members occurs.

Board Operation and Decision-Making Agreements

The Board and Superintendent shall strive to start and end meetings on time. When possible, they will set “actionable” items that require more deliberation earlier in the agenda before “information only” items.
Board Members shall avoid surprises to other Board Members or the Superintendent by following established communication agreements and meeting agendas. For an item to be added to a meeting agenda, three or more Members must make the request to the Board Chair.
The Board shall make decisions only as an entire Board and only at officially noticed public meetings.
Board Members shall support the decisions of the majority once a decision is made.

Board Expectations of the Superintendent

The Superintendent shall work toward becoming a team with Board Members.
The Superintendent shall respect and acknowledge the Board’s role in setting policy and overseeing the performance of the Superintendent.
The Superintendent shall work with the Board to establish a clear vision for the school district.
The Superintendent shall prepare strategic initiatives annually for the Board’s review.
The Superintendent shall provide data to the Board so that data-driven decisions can be made.
The Superintendent shall possess a working knowledge of all legal and local policies.
The Superintendent shall inform the Board of critical information, including relevant trends, anticipated adverse issues, or critical external or internal change.
The Superintendent shall communicate with Board Members promptly and effectively.
The Superintendent shall conduct a self-assessment prior to the Board’s evaluation of the Superintendent’s job performance.
The Superintendent shall provide follow-up information to Board Members on concerns and issues they have referred to the Superintendent.

Superintendent's Expectation of the Board

The Board shall recognize the Superintendent as the instructional leader of the school district, including careful consideration of each recommendation made by the Superintendent.
The Board shall adhere to the terms of the Superintendent’s employment contract.
The Board shall remain student-focused, representing the needs and interests of all students in the District.
The Board shall assist in gaining acceptance and support in the community, in part by sharing the successes and failures of the school system with the Superintendent.
The Board shall, in public and at school board meetings, show District staff the respect and consideration due skilled, professional employees.
The Board shall inform the Superintendent of all critical information and issues in a timely manner to increase transparency and set the Board and Superintendent up for success.
The Board shall be willing to abide by the Board’s own rules, policies, and code of ethical conduct, displaying integrity of the highest order.
The Board shall study and evaluate educational issues affecting the school district, and participate in professional development activities at the local, state, and national level.
The Board shall avoid surprise items at school board meetings.
The Board shall respect the confidentiality requirement of Board meeting executive sessions.
The Board shall set clear goals for the Board itself, the Superintendent, and the District.

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