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Laural O’Rourke recall, Eugene School District, Oregon (2023)
| Eugene School District recall |
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An effort to recall Laural O’Rourke from the seven-member Eugene School District school board in Oregon did not go to a vote in 2023. The petition was withdrawn.[1][2]
The effort started after a February 1, 2023, board meeting. At the meeting, board members debated concerns about public records, the use of Signal by board members, and how to approve agenda items. During that discussion, O'Rourke said she was experiencing racial harassment. A group of Sheldon High School volleyball players were scheduled to be recognized for winning the school's first state championship at the board meeting, but they left during the debate over the agenda. The superintendent later brought them back to the meeting for the recognition.[3][4] To watch a recording of the meeting on February 1, 2023, click here.
O'Rourke had also told fellow board members that she was experiencing racial bias in previous board meetings. She filed a formal complaint against the board and the district due to alleged racism in November 2022.[4]
Recall supporters
The recall petition was filed by Lisa Wood, a parent of a student in the district. The recall petition listed the following reasons for recall:[5]
| “ | Conduct unbecoming of a public officer. Inflammatory behavior in multiple board meetings witnessed by students, parents and fellow board members. Violation of board bylaws and communication standards in communication with parents.[6] | ” |
On their website, recall supporters said, "As parents and community members, we must SPEAK UP for our children and hold school board leaders ACCOUNTABLE when they choose to use hateful speech to bully, tear down, and instigate division."[7]
Recall opponents
In response to the recall effort, O'Rourke said she was standing up for her civil rights and for fair treatment from the board. “It was not surprising that entitled parents want to get rid of a Black board member speaking up for her civil rights,” O'Rourke said. “That someone would ask for a recall of a Black board member who is fighting against discrimination shows exactly what they are.”[4]
In response to the Sheldon High School volleyball players leaving the school board meeting on February 1, 2023, O'Rourke said they only had to wait a moment. “I played volleyball for 4J when I was a student and appreciated the opportunity. I would not intentionally diminish that accomplishment,” she said.[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Oregon
The recall petition was filed with the Lane County Clerk in February 2023.[5] To get the recall on the ballot, recall supporters would have had to collect signatures equal to 15% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the school district in 90 days.[8] The petition was withdrawn before the deadline.[1]
2023 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia tracked 48 school board recall efforts against 97 board members in 2023. Sixteen of those board members faced recall elections. The recall elections were held on January 10, 2023, August 1, 2023, August 8, 2023, August 29, 2023, November 7, 2023, and December 12, 2023. The school board recall success rate was 13.4%.
The chart below details the status of 2023 recall efforts by individual school board member.
See also
- Eugene School District, Oregon
- Recall campaigns in Oregon
- Political recall efforts, 2023
- School board recalls
- States that allow school board recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Lane County Elections Office," May 9, 2023
- ↑ Eugene School District, "Board of Directors," accessed February 8, 2023
- ↑ Eugene Weekly, "Signal Ignites 4J Board Meeting," February 3, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 KEZI 9, "O’Rourke recall process continues as proponents launch website," February 23, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 KEZI 9, "Petition filed to recall Eugene school board member," February 2, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Recall Laural O’Rourke," Home," accessed February 27, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Recall of Local Officials," accessed July 27, 2021
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