October 13, 2025 Work Session Meeting Minutes

 MINUTES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF DISTRICT NO. 40,
YAMHILL COUNTY, McMINNVILLE, OREGON

The Work Session was held October 13, 2025 both in person and via Zoom at the
McMinnville School District Office, 800 NE Lafayette Ave., McMinnville, OR 97128 

The link was https://msd40.zoom.us/j/215496199

Provisional Minutes-Not Board Approved

At 6:30 p.m. the Board of Directors of McMinnville School District opened the work session meeting.  The meeting was called to order by Chair Larry Vollmer.  Roll call indicated the following:

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Chair Larry Vollmer
Vice-Chair Gerardo Partida
Director Lu Ann Anderson
Director Christine Bader
Director Jason Bizon
Director Abbie Warmbier

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
None

ADMINISTRATION
Kourtney Ferrua, Interim Superintendent
Cherice Bowden, Board Secretary

AUDIENCE
Jason Hall, Lauren Berg, Hiran Amerasinghe, Martha Biggs, Allison Eitzen and Lisa Jordan-Zornow.

• Board Deliberation: Vacant Board Position
  Chair Vollmer opened the session by explaining that the board would publicly deliberate on the three candidates interviewed at the last work session before transitioning to the business meeting at 6:30.  He stated that there were seven applicants in total and three strong finalists. Chair Vollmer expressed how encouraging it felt to have such a talented group, sharing that in his years on the board, it’s rare to have multiple people step forward, making this a particularly positive and uplifting moment. He then invited the board members to share their thoughts, both the positives and any concerns about the candidates.

  Director Anderson echoed what Chair Vollmer said and stated that she was really impressed by the number of community members who applied, calling it a robust and exciting pool of candidates. She expressed deep appreciation for everyone who stepped forward, stating how difficult it was to narrow the field down. Director Anderson highlighted that all three finalists brought meaningful strengths, including financial and budgeting experience, as well as personal or professional connections to the district, whether through their children, past work, or community involvement. She found it powerful that candidates wanted to give back to the district and emphasized that making a final decision would be tough because she didn’t see any negatives that would rule anyone out based on their applications or interviews.

  Vice Chair Partida acknowledged that this final stage of the selection process is often the hardest because all three candidates are strong and genuinely motivated, even if their levels of knowledge differ slightly. He pointed out that while the decision will be difficult, it’s also exciting to be in this position. Reflecting on the past, he noted that less than 10 years ago it was challenging to find any candidates at all, so having seven applicants now is a positive sign. He expressed hope that this level of interest continues in the future, seeing it as a great sign of community engagement and support for the district.

  Director Warmbier emphasized the importance of ensuring the board reflects the diversity of the community it serves. She shared that, over the years, she has actively tried to recruit someone connected to the Hispanic PTA, and she sees Jasmin as someone who has shown long-term commitment and involvement in that space. Although Jasmin lacks direct board experience, she believes her perspective would be a valuable addition, especially since more than one in seven students in the district are Spanish-speaking. She also noted Jasmin’s experience as a parent of a child in special needs classes, another perspective currently missing on the board. She stated that she is not against other candidates, but she sees these specific strengths as meaningful gaps Jasmin could help fill.

  Director Bader acknowledged how difficult the decision is, calling it “the best possible problem to have” because all three candidates bring valuable strengths the board needs. She noted that Susan’s financial expertise would be a tremendous asset given the district’s current financial challenges, while Jasmin’s advocacy and representation for underserved and underrepresented communities is equally important. She also highlighted Marie’s proven ability to quickly learn, adapt, and lead in new situations, skills that align closely with the board’s work. She also pointed out that Marie has consistently shown up to board meetings, demonstrating clear commitment and awareness of what serving entails. She emphasized that she would be honored to serve with any of the three candidates and is willing to support the board’s collective decision.

  Director Bizon emphasized that when faced with three highly qualified and eager candidates, representation matters, especially having someone who currently has children in the district. He explained that having a board member who is also a parent provides valuable perspective and a direct stake in the decisions being made. He stated that one applicant already serves on the budget committee, which is a great asset, and another has extensive finance and accounting experience. He also stated that if there are parents that are willing to step up and be part of this with all of us and help make these decisions, that is where he would probably give a little bit of edge to.

  Chair Vollmer shared that he recognizes and appreciates the unique and valuable strengths each of the three candidates would bring to the board, noting that their skills are very much needed among the current members. He expressed support for any of them, acknowledging the importance of having someone with children in the district, someone who understands the district’s history and financial issues, and someone who has shown long-term dedication through PTA service. He admitted he feels both excited and torn about the decision, not wanting to discourage anyone eager to serve, but also recognizing that only one seat is available. He thanked everyone for their thoughtful comments and opened the floor for any final remarks.

  The Board reviewed the nomination process.

  The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.

  Meeting Videos

  Upcoming dates:

  • Board Business meeting November 10 and December 8, 2025
  • Work Session meeting November 24 2025, No meeting in December.