ARTICLE I: BOARD OF EDUCATION
SECTION E: MISCELLANEOUS

Policy 010: Tax Exempt Status
 

Rogue Community College is an independent municipal corporation under the Oregon Revised Statutes and is therefore not subject to federal income taxation.  The federal identification number for Rogue Community College is 93-0591783.

Authority:   ORS 341.287 & 307.090
Previous Policy No.:  1105
Amended:  March 16, 1983
Approved:   June 14, 1997
Amended/Approved:   March 21, 2006
Amended/Approved:   November 18, 2008

ARTICLE I: BOARD OF EDUCATION
SECTION E: MISCELLANEOUS

Board of Education members serve without remuneration, except that board members are reimbursed for travel and incidental expenditures under the same general policies as College staff.

Previous Policy  No.: 1540
Confirmed:  May 17, 1978
Approved:   June 14, 1997
Reviewed/Approved:   March 21, 2006

ARTICLE I: BOARD OF EDUCATION
SECTION E: MISCELLANEOUS

The Oregon Revised States (“ORS”) dealing with conflicts of interest include but are not limited to:

1. ORS 244.040 – The Code of Ethics.  This provides “No public official shall use or attempt to use official position or office to obtain financial gain or to avoid financial detriment.”  The statute goes into detail regarding what this means, and matters pertaining to gifts, use of confidential information and the like.
   
   
2. ORS 244.020(1) – Actual Conflict of Interest.  This “means any action or any decision or recommendation by a person acting in a capacity as a public official, the effect of which would be to the private pecuniary benefit or detriment of the person or the person’s relative or any business with which the person or a relative of the person is associated (subject to exceptions set out in the law)...”
   
   
3. ORS 244.020(7) – Potential Conflict of Interest.  This “means any action or any decision or recommendation by a person acting in a capacity as a public official, the effect of which could be to the private pecuniary benefit or detriment of the person or the person’s relative or any business with which the person or a relative of the person is associated (subject to exceptions set out in the law)…”
   
   
4. ORS 244.120(2) – Methods of Handling Conflicts.  “An elected public official…shall….
   
   
   1. When met with a potential conflict of interest, announce publicly the nature of the potential conflict prior to taking any action thereon in the capacity of a public official; or
      
      
   2. When met with an actual conflict of interest, announce publicly the nature of the actual conflict and: (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, refrain from participating as a public official in any discussion or debate on the issue out of which the actual conflict arises or from voting on the issue; [or] (B) If the public official’s vote is necessary to meet a requirement of a minimum number of votes to take official action, be eligible to vote, but not to participate as a public official in any discussion or debate on the issue out of which the actual conflict arises.”

These laws are in Chapter 244 of the Oregon Revised Statutes and are generally known as “Government Standards and Practices.”  The laws are enforced and interpreted by the Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission.  The commission is in Salem, Oregon (Tel. (503) 378-5105), and has staff available to answer questions and also has issued a manual, which public officials can refer to for guidance in this legal area.

Authority: ORS 162.005 to 162.465, ORS 244
Previous Policy No.: 1550
Confirmed: May 17, 1978
Amended: March 16, 1983
Approved: June 14, 1999
Amended:  August 20, 2002
Adopted:  September 17, 2002  

ARTICLE I: BOARD OF EDUCATION
SECTION E: MISCELLANEOUS

The Board places high priority on the importance of continuing programs of in-service education for its members to develop leadership capabilities, stay informed of current related issues, and improve skills as members of a policy-making body. 
Board members may participate in opportunities for development, including, but not limited to: 

• In-service activities, special meetings or retreats planned by the Board and/or college administration; as needed;
• Conferences and conventions held by the Oregon Community College Association, State Board of Education and other state and national school board associations, and educational organizations;
• Subscriptions to publications applicable to Board membership and/or community college issues and concerns. 

Guidelines:  For better control of the investment of time and funds needed to support these learning activities, the Board established these guidelines: 

• Funds for participation at such meetings will be budgeted.
• The College President will inform Board members, in timely manner, of upcoming conferences and conventions that may be of interest. 
• The Board will discuss and decide which meetings appear to be most likely to produce the greatest benefit to the Board and the District;
• When funds are limited, the Board will designate which members, if interested, would be most appropriate, to participate in a particular given meeting or activity. 
• If authorized to attend, and reimbursement is approved by the Board, Board members will be reimbursed, upon request, for reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred.
• When a conference, convention, or workshop is not attended by the full Board, those who do participate will be requested to share, by means of written or oral reports, information, recommendations, and materials acquired at the meeting. 

Authority: ORS 332.107; 332.018(3)
First Reading:  April 15, 2003
Approved: May 20, 2003