The Philomath School Board welcomed new leadership Monday evening as members reorganized following the May election with Erin Gudge unanimously elected as board chair and Tom Klipfel chosen as vice chair.
The meeting, held in the Philomath High School Community Conference Room, began with the swearing-in of Klipfel and Erin McMullen to four-year terms. The ceremony took a more informal approach than in previous years with the new members remaining seated and reading their oaths aloud rather than standing and repeating words. Gudge, who is returning for a second term, also participated in the swearing-in process.
Gudge, who previously served as vice chair, was the lone nominee for the chair position. As mentioned, Klipfel, a veteran board member with a decade of past experience, was selected to serve as vice chair. Both were approved on unanimous roll-call votes.
In response to a question on organization, Gudge outlined her vision for more efficient meetings, emphasizing the need to respect audience members’ time.
“One of my priorities or goals is to — and I want to say this in the gentlest, kindest way — but professionalize some of the meetings and streamline them a bit so that we have a working meeting and a business meeting,” Gudge said.
Gudge’s approach involves potentially adding more work sessions to the board’s schedule, which would allow for more detailed discussions and question-and-answer sessions outside of regular business meetings. Currently, the board holds only a couple of work sessions per year, which Gudge believes is insufficient.
“Sometimes we get led astray by our conversations and we forget to come back, so having those separate work sessions where we can really ask questions of people (are important),” she said. “If somebody has a report to the board, they’re able to do that in a work session so we can have more of an interactive question-and-answer and then the decisions would be made in a business session.”
Klipfel expressed support for Gudge’s leadership approach but raised concerns about maintaining board autonomy in setting agendas. Drawing from his past experience, he warned against allowing meetings to become “the superintendent’s agenda.”
“I’ve been in that situation where the superintendent kind of drives the entire agenda and what the board wants to accomplish or feels the community wants to accomplish on their behalf doesn’t happen,” Klipfel said.
Klipfel emphasized the importance of regular meetings between the chair and superintendent to ensure board priorities are represented alongside administrative needs.
Gudge agreed with Klipfel’s comments.
“Yes, absolutely,” she said, “and anytime people, if they would like to request something be added to the agenda, I’m open to that.”
Over the past few years, meetings have included suggestions or directives on upcoming meeting agenda items. Gudge also said she’s responsive through email to anything that might come up as a possible topic.
The board also addressed its ongoing strategic planning process, which Gudge said “will bring the community voice a lot more readily to the board meetings.” Superintendent Susan Halliday said that process will come in pieces throughout the academic year with a finished product expected in June.
A work session has been scheduled for the afternoon of Aug. 13 — the specific topics to be discussed not confirmed but Gudge said that in the past, it has been a time for the board to discuss goals, reflect on successes and learning opportunities from the previous year and to review an outline of the board’s annual calendar.
The meeting also included the assignment of liaison roles and committee representatives. Gudge will serve as liaison to Philomath High School, McMullen to Philomath Academy, Ryan Cheeke to Philomath Middle School, Klipfel to Philomath Elementary and Blodgett Elementary, and Sandi Hering to Clemens Primary School.
Committee assignments include Klipfel on the Clemens Community Pool Committee, McMullen on both the Equity Committee and Technology Advisory Committee, Gudge on the Special Education Advisory Committee, Cheeke on the Safety/Facilities Committee, and Hering on the Safety/Security and Threat Committee. Gudge and Klipfel will tentatively serve on the Policy Sub-Committee.
All board members will serve on the Budget Committee. Gudge and Hering will represent the board in both licensed and classified staff negotiations.
The board agreed to maintain its regular meeting schedule on the second Thursday of each month.
