OASA Association Updates

Dr. Pam Deering, CCOSA/OASA Executive Director

Derald Glover, OASA Assistant Executive Director

OASA has always been the go-to organization for school superintendents and central office administrators. FY22 is proving how important our professional organization is to our members. Once again, OASA has stepped up to provide communication and up-to-the-minute information to its members as we go through another challenging year in public education leadership.

■ The OASA weekly zoom “Touch Base” meetings continued this year since our school leaders felt a need to share ideas on a regular basis. Besides providing this valuable forum for networking and sharing information, OASA has worked diligently through a legislative goal process that accurately reflects the direction that our members wish us to follow. Our communication network and defined goals may be more important than ever this year as we anticipate an intense battle against school choice scholarship and tax credit legislation.

■ Three years ago, after hearing concerns from our members, OASA began holding meetings to gather information on tax protests, TIFS, and assessment issues. As more schools are affected by tax protests, we finally saw momentum last legislative session to consider a legislative solution. OASA has been the hub of gathering all parties that regulate the tax protest process and we are gaining consensus on possible legislative remedies.

■ Internally, OASA is forming a Governance Committee to take a hard look at our governance processes and make recommendations. This process was completed three years ago, and positive changes were made in ensuring that OASA members were represented fairly. Taking a hard look at ourselves is just another way that OASA stays current and listens to the needs of its members.

■ In order to maintain its strength, OASA is seeking 100% membership from its school superintendents. CCOSA added Kathy Dunn to begin providing much needed support and services to central office administrators. She has begun a network of federal program, Indian education, and student information administrators and staff. These meetings have been heavily attended and it is anticipated that many of these staff will join and make OASA even stronger in size and influence.

■ Besides advocacy, membership, and network communications, OASA has worked diligently to provide finance bootcamps and state aid factor estimates. Sound financial advice is more vital than ever as schools are receiving unprecedented one-time federal dollars.

■ OASA is your professional organization, and our strength is through engaged members. We will continue to fight on behalf of public-school administrators by advocating on your behalf at the State Capitol. Through our Quality School Frameworks, our communications network, and our advocacy, we continue to show that schools are being led by true professionals. We hope you will continue to be an active part of this amazing organization and continue to ride with the OASA brand! ■

Join Us!

OASA’s strength comes from its many members. We want to be sure that all of our superintendents, principals, special services directors and central office staff have the opportunity to become members of CCOSA/OASA and the other organizations under the CCOSA umbrella. We are so much stronger with advocacy efforts and professional learning when we are joined together as members. Thank you for renewing if you are already a member! Help us grow new members in your district! Please remember that school administrators must pay for their own dues, but can have that amount included in their contract. If you would like sample language to include your professional dues in your contract, please contact Dr. Deering at deering@ccosa.org or Derald Glover at glover@ccosa.org.