President Lisa Gourley Shares an Update for the New Year

“Holy Cow!” It’s 2022 and our union continues pushing forward. Our lives have been forever catalogued in the history of our nation as those in the “Great War,” “Great Depression” or other era-defining events. Just as those times were not “great” to live in, there is nothing great about the crisis brought on due to COVID-19. Profound change has occurred with lasting... Read More

Gov. Brown Orders Schools to Operate In-Person

Today Gov. Kate Brown is announcing that she will take executive action to ensure all public schools provide universal access to in-person instruction, either fully on-site or through a hybrid model. Schools will be required to reopen by the week of March 29 for students in grades K-5 and by the week of April 19 for students in grades 6-12, with some narrow exceptions. The governor... Read More

First Guidance on Reopening Schools From ODE

Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has released their first guidance for reopening schools in the fall. While acknowledging that COVID-19 will still pose a risk, the guidance emphasizes that in-person education should be a priority whenever possible. Schools will need to work through challenges to find ways to safely reopen for the 2020-21 school year. Here’s what education... Read More

Results from OSEA’s Opening Our Schools Safely Survey

Until a vaccine for COVID-19 is widely available, how can schools meet the educational needs of students without risking the health and safety of students and staff? We asked OSEA-represented education employees to share their thoughts, ideas and concerns in a recent survey.  Read More

COVID-19 Update: School Closure Extended Through the Academic Year

On Wednesday, April 8, Gov. Kate Brown and Colt Gill, director of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), announced that the public school closure will be extended through the academic year out of the need to protect students and staff during this pandemic. All staff will continue in paid status. Gov. Brown also extended her executive order regarding post-secondary education. I... Read More

Conference, Delegate Elections, Officer Elections and Ratification of Agreements

Conference 2020 We have not made a decision to cancel this year’s Conference; however, we will not hold Conference if we cannot ensure a safe environment for all participants. For now, we will continue to monitor the direction and guidance from the governor and health officials. We will continue to provide updates as we move forward. Delegate Election for Conference 2020/Officer... Read More

Letter from Lisa: Update on OSEA’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

In the face of an increasingly devastating pandemic, I am proud that our union has used our voice effectively to advocate for the employees we represent, the students we help educate and the communities we serve. We are all facing daunting challenges in our lives and work. Thanks to OSEA, we do not have to face them alone. In light of new information we have learned over the last... Read More

Fire fighters offer tips for education employees to protect themselves from COVID-19

As first responders, our siblings in labor at the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. They shared some tips for how education employees can protect themselves during this pandemic. What are the best safety tips for operating in small spaces or close proximity, such as school kitchens or child care rooms, without personal protective... Read More

ODE Releases Guidelines for Distance Learning, ‘Strong Possibility’ of Extending Closure Through June

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has released long-awaited guidance for distance learning during the school closure. While this guidance primarily impacts teachers, it is also relevant for classified staff who are assisting with distance learning. In this statement, ODE also notes that there is a ‘strong possibility’ that schools will remain closed for the remainder... Read More

Find Your Field Rep

OSEA is working to support and represent members during this unprecedented time. Find the contact information for your field representative here.  Read More