Meeting Dates & Public Comment

• August 25, 2025 (8:00 am) -  Potential Quorum at New Teacher Orientation
• August 25, 2025 (6:30 pm) - Special Meeting for Budget Hearing and Public Comment
• August 25, 2025 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• August 26, 2025 (7:30 am) - Potential Quorum at All Staff Orientation
• September 8, 2025 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• September 15, 2025 (Time TBD) - Special Meeting to visit the Food Service, Transportation and Maintenance Departments
• September 22, 2025 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• October 13, 2025 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• October 20, 2025 (Time TBD) - Special Meeting to visit Othello High School
• October 27, 2025 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• November 3, 2025 (Time TBD) - Special Meeting to visit Scootney Springs Elementary School
• November 10, 2025 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• November 20-22, 2025 (Thursday to Saturday) - Potential Quorum for WSSDA Annual Conference
• November 24, 2025 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• December 8, 2025 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• December 17, 2025 (12:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• January 12, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• January 12, 2026 (Time TBD) - Special Meeting to visit McFarland Middle School
• January 26, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• February 2, 2026 (Time TBD) - Special Meeting to visit the OSD Preschool
• February 9, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• February 23, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• March 2026 (Date and Time TBD) - Special Meeting to Conduct Student Representative Interviews
• March 9, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• March 16, 2026 (Time TBD) - Special Meeting to visit Hiawatha Elementary School
• March 23, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• April 9-12, 2026 (Thursday to Sunday) - Potential Quorum for NSBA Conference
• April 13, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• April 20, 2026 (Time TBD) - Special Meeting to visit Lutacaga Elementary School
• April 27, 2026 (6:00 pm) - Special Meeting to Review Board of Trustees Scholarship Recipients
• April 27, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• May 11, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• May 18, 2026 (Time TBD) - Special Meeting to visit Wahitis Elementary School
• May 2026 (Date and Time TBD) - Special Meeting for Annual Board Retreat
• May 26, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• June 8, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting
• June 22, 2026 (7:00 pm) - Regular Business Meeting

Public Comment at Board Meetings

The Othello School Board of Directors is committed to hearing and seeking input from the parents, teachers, and the community at-large in a variety of formats. One of these formats is public comment at our regularly scheduled Board meetings.

The Board generally meets on the second and fourth Monday each month at 7:00pm. The meeting calendar can be found here. The meetings are normally held at the District Boardroom, located at 1025 S. 1st Ave. in Othello. From time to time, the Board also meets at school locations. Public comment periods are held at the beginning of each regular meeting. 

Tips of preparing to speak to the Board:

Your goal for providing comment should be to raise a specific topic or issue with the School Board. Our goal is to listen and learn from the community. We will not respond to testimony that evening. If you would like to speak before the school Board, please follow these guidelines:

• Do not address questions to the Board. The Board's goal for the public comment period is to hear your concerns, comments and opinions. Questions can be answered through calls or letters to Board members.
• Try to resolve any issues with teachers, school principals, or other district personnel before bringing the issue to the Board.
• Recognize that the Board does not discuss personnel matters at Board meetings. Issues or concerns about individual staff members can be addressed with the Board through letters or phone calls.
• Do your homework and understand the basic facts of the issue before addressing the Board.
• Prepare an outline of your testimony so that it is well organized and avoids repetition. 
• Plan to keep your remarks to three minutes. The Board has limited time to hear all of those who sign up to speak. 

Process at the meeting:

• Members of the community who wish to speak to the Board during the public comment period should sign up before the meeting states. A sign-up sheet is available at the back-right side of the boardroom, usually by 6:45pm.
• Please print your name and complete address legibly on the sign-up sheet.
• When the Board is ready, the president will refer to the sign-up sheet and all out the names in the order that they appear.

Addressing the Board:

• When your name is called, approach the front table. Speak into the microphone, giving your full name and where you live for the record.
• Please limit your comments to three minutes.
• Be respectful of the Board when speaking.
• Be ready to respond to questions from the Board if asked.
• Address your testimony to the Board members, not the audience.
• Do not address questions to the Board. The Board's goal for the public comment period is to hear your concerns, comments and opinions. Questions can be answered through calls or letters to Board members.

The balance of the Board Meeting after Public Input:

The main purpose of board meetings is for the Board to conduct its business in public. During that time, the Board will be listening and learning from each other and hose previously invited to provide input. Please refrain from attempting to interrupt the Board's deliberations to volunteer comments or input during that time frame. Should you have further input based in the Board deliberations, please contact a member of the Board or the Superintendent after the meeting concludes. Information on ways to contact a Board member or the Superintendent are found on our website.