[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6491098,"mediaKeyId","5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f","parentId",5735140,"title","Board debate over ethics complaints, OGEC response and investigation leaves members divided; board weighs legal advice","audioSeconds",2257,"startMs",5865000,"endMs",8122000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f&start=5865&end=8122","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f/thumbnail_5865000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6491098/Oregon/Board-debate-over-ethics-complaints-OGEC-response-and-investigation-leaves-members-divided-board-weighs-legal-advice","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491098-355a38ebda2d76cc3107a0aeb60905bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672328&Signature=J~iFnwur8aAjoSXN8~ITSaDYtHFJOStfpsSBgBIVWshODoXCz7ZfEfNVqY3xIwKMXx99lfTPuarghje~L03DJgtANSSU6uvPYiszPa1OxmFEf-5TEi8iV1MKI1OBSmOw~PEmulb0MRhxLWweHhFzF0dqPevAzzqcqdYk1w2t6rKzkanTlUWw6WHXKFQFvXbyjaw58VfRpImJvDp8Os~cYeGWn3hSvonFXQryUF98evNSjxzQFpM799atDnsnKv4KpHKbTYy7LN8fCzwneRXQ6d5zh5Sme6oJnjyF~zMUoUjPyRNZofgT4nXhxtP36oeaML0CDuau30xaCn6Gbit5SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sweet Home School District 55","date","2025-09-09T01:14:43Z","article","A series of ethics grievances and allegations of improper \"serial\" communications dominated the Sweet Home School District board meeting, prompting extended discussion, public comment and legal follow-up.

Board chair and staff reported the board had responded to five grievances within the statutory 21-day period and forwarded the documents to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC). OGEC staff later told district staff that, based on the materials submitted, four of the complaints were being treated as alleged public meeting violations rather than ethics violations; OGEC told the district it would not act further unless complainants asked OGEC to investigate. In at least one instance OGEC later advised the district it lacked jurisdiction over the matter asserted and would take no further action.

Several board members and residents said the way the most recent meeting handled the complaints — including motions and officer removals that occurred before a separate fact-finding process — left them feeling tried in public without having had an opportunity to respond. Multiple speakers described the episode as painful and divisive; one newly elected member said she left a previous meeting in tears and called for professionalism.

Legal references cited in the meeting included ORS 192.705 (public meeting response timing), ORS chapter 244 (government ethics), and the district's board policy KL/KL-AR1 regarding complaint processes. District counsel and OSBA (Oregon School Boards Association) guidance were referenced repeatedly. At least one attorney engaged by the district conducted interviews and produced a personnel-focused inquiry; district staff reported that the outside attorney narrowed an initial board-focused inquiry to a personnel matter.

Board members discussed options: (1) rely on OGEC and the external attorney’s guidance, (2) commission an independent investigation at district expense, or (3) seek attorney-client privileged guidance in an executive session. Several members expressed concern about the cost of a full independent investigation and potential diversion of dollars from classrooms. Others said their names and reputations had been harmed and asked for formal steps to clear names.

By the meeting’s end members expressed a preference for obtaining legal counsel advice in an attorney-client setting (possible executive session) rather than immediately commissioning a costly outside probe; multiple participants asked for a path that would provide greater clarity and preserve district resources. No formal board vote to hire a separate investigator was recorded. Several members asked that any future investigation or attorney memo be handled in a way that respects privacy and legal processes, and that the district avoid further public escalation while the matter is resolved.

Public commenters, including current and former district employees and community members, urged calm and better role modeling; an attendee who identified as a retired school office manager called the board’s conduct “appalling” and urged better behavior. Several speakers called for apologies and a return to focus on students and classrooms.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sept. Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Five grievances filed against the Sweet Home School District board and the board’s response to them prompted extended debate, calls for apologies and a choice among further options: OGEC review, a district-funded investigation, or attorney-client review in executive session.","taxTitle","Sweet Home SD 55, School Districts, Oregon","taxId",67611,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6491090,"District reports enrollment gain and early-year spending rise; integrated programs annual report approved",366,3086000,3452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f&start=3086&end=3452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f/thumbnail_3086000.jpg","/articles/6491090/Oregon/District-reports-enrollment-gain-and-early-year-spending-rise-integrated-programs-annual-report-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491090-60e83bf56acddfbcf42d8afbf8c1f2f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672328&Signature=RcvKwTdCF2wuCy1vFvmbwVt2fu5~1wEuJBph68G33h0vcGBQuaQJBA2s9w-swG693iS~b-DP~jTt~7xGrYm2A94gSynzRq8EdC~4oFo9WwoB2rsqGVscOa1PNSYpQsGk5r3ZMGx2-6X6No42IqckRkYKDUZ85PqF2Pc-S9DwSDftInOdt5oGJ6VmAkyyhd8KixL8rljZHbuHP0RtNHz5c06BWQozXFTdwuh8ioCxTgiFvD4Gm3ZbUPhPKYfvVZiBH0dnEQMFi4oZWNvMQeTUfUnJ-qvd0aCYrSI9lxP7eJLuoztyyrzUwnzISRcWF-XQw~Pr~n1HqZq9NrpxuSghNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Terry Martin and district business staff reported an early-year increase in student enrollment and a modest uptick in general-fund spending during the first two months of the fiscal year.

Martin told the board that initial kindergarten enrollment exceeded expectations (126 kindergarten students versus an expected 85), and the district’s overall headcount increased from 2,148 at the end of last year to 2,265 — a gain of 117 students. Martin noted district finances are tied to enrollment and that district staff will monitor retention and month-to-month fluctuations.

Kevin (business manager) updated the board on the budget: after two months of the fiscal year general fund spending was higher by roughly $193,000 compared with the same period last year. He attributed that difference primarily to increased liability and property insurance premiums and higher labor costs (pension and insurance), both of which the district had anticipated.

On consent matters the board accepted the resignation of Harrison Neil, a high school science teacher, and approved temporary and cooperative hires provided in the consent packet. The board then approved the 2024–25 integrated programs annual report, a required submission describing how integrated program funds (including student investment and high school success funds) were used; the district also completed questions required by the Oregon Department of Education as part of the submission.

Board members asked about longer-term enrollment trends, national birth-rate effects and the district’s approach to staggered starts for junior-high students. Administration said staggered starts and leadership-student mentoring were used to ease transitions.

","Sweet Home School District reported 2,265 students in its early enrollment count — a gain of 117 from last year — and told the board that general fund spending is about $193,000 higher than the same period last year, driven by insurance and labor costs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6491094,"Board asks legal review of proposal to fly U.S. flag daily and restrict other flags at schools",711,8907000,9618000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f&start=8907&end=9618","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f/thumbnail_8907000.jpg","/articles/6491094/Oregon/Board-asks-legal-review-of-proposal-to-fly-US-flag-daily-and-restrict-other-flags-at-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491094-2906996c59755545a62003742fc205e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672328&Signature=KtBmRDdKlkEirnyh1o2Y9pe1az8VnnVw22VCRQuKzb6k9ea3OdpYHLU75fdLnlJUOQMnyc4jPrIEMmLIV9JmFBL5lb4gVoCFR9-ddQlpEbjw0f1~hvWFBexrmo5Su~WxRllZVUa6275e3t~l81B0jI2ifUMNUr6Z~yIHdu0ddvzmNLWs~j2rfNXYvY2IoDcRfPfzKVmctMtyRS9foiknbN9iQ2MH1~DrSwbxO1dz3x9ztoTVf6CMHVe2a7JCdZSoPdDeml08OoQ8bl135XDgMumABvqDxj8iTy7UZyTRovvxF2l20MrdOh6yVIRHusSIluL-xnbpyv8v8tjBqVL5SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members discussed and endorsed sending a proposed amendment to the district’s flag policy to legal counsel for review. The proposed changes would require the U.S. flag to be displayed daily during the school year, encourage students to raise and lower the outdoor flag and suggest daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance over the loudspeaker. The draft would also limit on-campus display of other flags to those explicitly enumerated in the policy (U.S. flag, state flag, POW/MIA flag).

Board members and the superintendent noted recent litigation in other Oregon districts and advised running the proposed language by the district’s attorney and OSBA (Oregon School Boards Association) to reduce legal exposure. One board member registered a formal nay when the chair called for consensus to send the draft to counsel; otherwise members agreed to proceed with counsel review.

Legal counsel was given direction to check the proposal for conflict with federal flag code, state and federal free-speech precedent (Newberg litigation was cited as background) and other statutory constraints. The superintendent will return counsel’s recommendations to the board for a first reading or further action.

","A board member proposed changing district policy to require the U.S. flag be displayed every school day, to encourage daily flag-raising and pledge recitation, and to limit other flags; the board asked the superintendent to send the proposed language to legal counsel for review.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6491103,"Sweet Home school board elects Chris Hiaasen to Position 8; appoints vice chair and secretary, accepts resignation",365,2662000,3027000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f&start=2662&end=3027","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735140-b0d4234637a15c50ef2ae052979c8c4f/thumbnail_2662000.jpg","/articles/6491103/Oregon/Sweet-Home-school-board-elects-Chris-Hiaasen-to-Position-8-appoints-vice-chair-and-secretary-accepts-resignation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491103-c32219c35e91e6406460c2942d3970cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672328&Signature=d2JUhJsgZvwlGQV0AeCkPdm5pfz6S0w~4ZsjW7Ia5OYSEoLT5zKmMLgqg5BESiaQiDyF29KweBeYY90KYOlF4UQnlHhCrGYZ~SBgnbRNaAlx9r~fj9x8ixZwc6kkkRiPy9ioAHppvpVYEcLdGWPraZ~8qSVAZeMNLsnowFgh117o8bG0ObOT248VV9F~kv1v58gGFbvvx27WiI-uI-AGN0Gj0CjILpO3CbGTwlp8Gf2S6UEP2uc5YfJVMGjQgKVuGdroJQKl3Ko3L2cc3MnJBRkUoLeJlyoPFnPbWadb8q7UvKOKP4qaceyoNGNepYeBx6gMkOcRxegrmtkRczCuKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sweet Home School board elected Chris Hiaasen to Position 8 after successive rounds of signed written ballots and announced his oath of office during the meeting. The board also appointed Dale as vice chair and nominated Jenna Northern as board secretary by voice votes, accepted the resignation of board member Floyd Neuschwander and directed staff to post the resulting vacancy in the Cascadia area.

The board conducted a written-ballot election for Position 8. After an initial round produced a tie for the highest votes between Jason and Chris, the board proceeded to subsequent rounds, then certified that Chris Hiaasen “received a majority vote and is elected to position number 8.” The result was recorded into the public record and Superintendent Martin administered the oath of office to Hiaasen in open session.

During the same meeting the board moved and seconded a motion to appoint Dale as vice chair; the motion was approved by voice vote. The board then moved and seconded a motion to nominate Jenna Northern as secretary; that motion also passed by voice vote. Minutes show standard voice-roll call procedure (\"All in favor, say aye; all opposed, say nay\").

On the consent agenda the board accepted the resignation of Harrison Neil, science teacher at the high school, and later accepted the resignation of board member Floyd Neuschwander. Members then directed district staff to post the Cascadia-area vacancy; board practice in the meeting described a 21-day posting period for similar openings.

The board noted that ballots from the internal written voting process will be retained as part of the public record. Members emphasized that paper ballots are tallied and recorded in open session and that the district will follow its established procedures for certifying and documenting results.

The meeting continued with other agenda items after the elections and appointments.

","The Sweet Home School District board elected candidate Chris Hiaasen to Position 8 after multiple rounds of written ballots, appointed a vice chair and secretary by voice vote, accepted a resignation and directed staff to post a vacancy for the Cascadia-area seat.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board debate over ethics complaints, OGEC response and investigation leaves members divided; board weighs legal advice

District reports enrollment gain and early-year spending rise; integrated programs annual report approved

Board asks legal review of proposal to fly U.S. flag daily and restrict other flags at schools

Sweet Home school board elects Chris Hiaasen to Position 8; appoints vice chair and secretary, accepts resignation