Reedsport School District 105
Become a
board member.
Bring your perspective to the future of Highland Elementary and
Reedsport Community Charter School. Discover what serving on our
School Board involves—and where your first step could lead.
- Board directors
- 5
- Schools, one district
- 2
- Regular term of office
- 4 years
A voice for every student
Small community.
Lasting impact.
A strong school board keeps students at the center of decisions.
Reedsport’s five directors work together to guide our district
and care for the public resources entrusted to our schools.
Set a shared direction
Shape district goals and policy, follow progress, and keep the
needs of students at Highland and RCCS in view.
Steward public resources
Review and adopt the district budget, consider major commitments,
and connect financial decisions with educational priorities.
Support accountable leadership
Hire and evaluate the superintendent. The superintendent and
school staff lead the daily work of the district.
Listen and work together
Hear community perspectives, prepare for public meetings, and
make decisions collectively as a board serving the whole district.
Bring your curiosity
Good board service begins with good listening.
A listening ear
Be curious about experiences beyond your own and make room
for different points of view.
Time to prepare
Read meeting materials, ask thoughtful questions, and commit
to continued learning.
A shared purpose
Work respectfully with fellow directors and keep the success
of every student in focus.
Begin with the basics
Who can serve on the board?
Start by checking the requirements for the position you are considering.
-
Registered in the district
Candidates must be registered voters of Reedsport School District
105. Confirm your district and any position-specific residency
requirements with Douglas County Elections. -
One year of district residency
Oregon law requires a director to have lived in the district
for the year immediately before election or appointment. -
Review employment restrictions
Oregon law generally prevents employees of a district, or a public
charter school within it, from serving on that district’s board.
Review your circumstances with the county and district before
pursuing a seat.
Douglas County Elections can help confirm your eligibility, address
and filing requirements. District boundaries and position requirements
should be checked before filing.
From curious to ready
Take it one step at a time.
You can learn about the work before deciding whether to run.
These are useful places to begin.
-
Get to know the board
Attend or watch a Reedsport board meeting and read a meeting packet.
Explore the district’s strategic plan and policies to see the
decisions directors consider. -
Have a conversation
Contact Sharmen Tipton, our Board Secretary, to ask about the work,
current term dates, the meeting schedule and any advertised
appointment process. -
Confirm the filing details
For an elected seat, work with Douglas County Elections to confirm
the positions on the ballot, current deadlines, official forms,
and filing fee or petition requirements. -
Prepare for the journey
Use OSBA’s candidate resources to learn about board responsibilities.
Review Oregon’s campaign finance guidance before raising or spending
campaign funds.
Keep learning
Good questions. Useful resources.
Explore Oregon’s candidate guidance, board learning opportunities
and official election information.
Oregon School Boards Association
OSBA Get On Board Resources
A practical introduction to running for a school board, the
responsibilities of service, and candidate webinar recordings.
State of Oregon
Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division
Official candidate guidance, election manuals, campaign finance
resources and voter information.
State of Oregon
Oregon County Elections Officials
Find county election offices. For Reedsport School District candidate
filing questions, start with Douglas County Elections.
Oregon School Boards Association
OSBA Elections Information
Information about elections for OSBA’s regional Board of Directors
and Legislative Policy Committee. These are association elections,
separate from local school board candidate filing.
Coalition of Oregon School Administrators
COSA School Law Conference
Program and professional learning information for the December 2–4,
2026 Oregon School Law Conference in Eugene. This conference is an
additional learning opportunity.
A few common questions
Before you take the next step.
How much time should I plan for?
Plan for regular meetings, reading packets in advance, work sessions,
learning opportunities and community conversations. Ask the Board
Secretary about Reedsport’s schedule and the expectations of serving here.
Do I need to arrive as an expert?
Bring a willingness to listen, prepare and learn. Reviewing district
materials, attending meetings and exploring OSBA’s training resources
are useful ways to understand the role before you decide.
How do I find current positions and deadlines?
Check directly with Douglas County Elections for the next election’s
ballot positions and filing dates. The district can answer questions
about current directors and any separately advertised vacancy appointment.
Your local starting point
Let’s talk about serving.
Have questions about the Reedsport School Board? Start a conversation
with our district office. For ballot filing and election requirements,
connect with Douglas County Elections.
Reedsport School District 105
Sharmen Tipton
Board Secretary
stipton@reedsport.k12.or.us
541-271-3656
District Office · 100 Ranch Road
Reedsport, OR 97467
Candidate filing & elections
Douglas County Elections
541-440-4252Elections@douglascountyor.gov
Resources reviewed October 29, 2026. Confirm current filing instructions
and deadlines with the elections office.
