The Lewis & Clark Montessori Charter School is organized as a nonprofit organization under the laws of Oregon and under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. As such, the School is managed by a Board of Directors, which has the primary responsibility for fulfilling the school’s mission and is legally accountable for its operation.

The Board of Directors sets strategic goals, establishes school policies, is responsible for the organization’s financial health, and ensures compliance with the Charter Agreement between the School and the Gresham-Barlow School District. Click here to read more about the role and expectations of a Board of Director.

Additionally, the Board hires the Executive Director to develop the programs and carry out the School’s day-to-day operations. The Executive Director attends all Board meetings as an ex-officio member, reports on school operation and submits strategic recommendations.

All meetings and activities of the Lewis & Clark Montessori Charter School Board of Directors are subject to the State of Oregon’s open meeting and public records laws. Our parent community and the public are welcome to attend any meeting of the Board of Directors. For an up-to-date list of Board of Director and Board Committee meetings, please click on the calendar tab located on this page to view our official meeting schedule.

The Lewis & Clark Montessori Charter School (LCMCS) Board of Directors is recruiting candidates to fill several upcoming vacancies. We are seeking candidates who desire to promote Montessori education in the public sector. Serving on the Board is an opportunity to support and contribute to the success of LCMCS school leaders, teachers & staff, and students. Board member time commitment includes monthly board meetings and service on committees or work groups.
Photo of Carolyn Luke

Carolyn Luke

Vice-Chair

Biography

Carolyn joined the LCMCS community in 2017 when her son, Sage, entered the primary program.  As a child, Carolyn attended a children’s house program and she believes that a Montessori approach to public education has the potential to build a better future for our children and our world.

Carolyn holds a B.S. in Zoology from Oregon State and has ten years of experience as a non-profit leadership professional managing animal welfare programs.  She currently manages her family’s small organic farm which supports food access to local low-income families and partners with the Clackamas County Juvenile Justice Department to provide restorative justice opportunities for local youth.

She lives in Barton with her husband and son, a flock of chickens, a herd of Nubian goats, a couple of friendly farm pups, Red Pony, and a cat named Bubba.

________________________

Board Position #1
Term Ends: June 2023
Joined Board: June 2019

Login

How can I contact the Board of Directors?

To contact the Board for items within their scope, you may:

  1. E-mail the School Board Chair, Sara O’Brien at sobrien@lcmcs.org.
  2. Email the board as a whole: board@lcmcs.org
  3. Call the school’s office at (503) 427-0803 to arrange a meeting with the Board Chair or to make a special request of the Board.

Items within the School Board’s scope are outlined on this page. For questions regarding administrative functions or day-to-day activities, please send your inquiry to the School’s Front Desk or Executive Director as appropriate.  The Front Desk may be reached at 503) 427-0803 or info@lcmcs.org.  Executive Director, Courtney, McWilliams, may also be reached at (503) 427-0803 or cmcwilliams@lcmcs.org. Questions regarding a student’s educational experience should be addressed to the Director of Education, Tami O’Kinsella at (503) 427-0803 or tokinsella@lcmcs.org.

How can I speak at a Board meeting?

Anyone can speak at a Board meeting, and written comments are also welcome.

Board meetings at the Lewis and Clark Montessori School are generally small and informal. However, when the Board has a full agenda or there are a large number of attendees, more formality may be required. The Board Chair has discretion, with the advice and consent of the Board, to adjust the protocols for parents and the public to speak and engage with the Board during any meeting of the Board of Directors.  his includes setting a time limit for public comment and regulating when during the Board’s agenda the public may address the Board.

If you would like to formally address the Board of Directors during a meeting, we request that you make a written request to the Secretary.  This can be done in advance of the meeting by emailing Carolyn Lunke at cluke@lcmcs.org, or you may deliver a physical copy to the Secretary at the meeting.

Written requests sent in advance help us to adjust our meeting schedule and allow us to to give more meaningful attention to any person who wishes to discuss an issue with the Board of Directors.

For general requests, the Board of Directors or the Board Chair may designate a specific section of the meeting for public comment.  In cases where the request is related to a specific item on the Board’s agenda, the Board Chair may decide to include an opportunity for public comment as part of that agenda item for purposes of efficiency.

What does the Board do in executive session?

Pursuant to the School’s bylaws and state law, the board may discuss certain confidential matters in executive session. These matters include personnel issues, negotiations, litigation, expulsions, exempt records, and real estate matters. Due to the confidential nature of the topics discussed, executive sessions are not open to the public. However, while the Board may discuss certain issues in private, the Board may NOT make decisions or vote during an executive session. Any formal decisions or voting must take place during the public portion of a meeting of the Board of Directors.

What do the Board of Directors Do?

Click here to read about the roles and expecations of members of the Lewis and Clark Montessori School Board of Directors.

How do I become a School Board member?

New members of the Board of Directors are elected by the existing Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3 of the Lewis and Clark Montessori School Bylaws. The Board’s executive committee is tasked with recruiting, interviewing, examining the qualifications of, and recommending potential new members to be elected by the full Board of Directors.

When evaluating potential Board of Directors, the executive committee not only considers an individuals skills and commitment to the School but also assesses the needs of the Board as a whole, including the types of skills or experiences needed to ensure that the School continues to be led by a well-rounded and competent Board of Directors.

If you are interested in serving on the Lewis and Clark Montessori School Board, please click here for ore information and to “express your interest.”

How are Board members compensated?

School Board members are appointed in accordance with the Lewis and Clark Montessori Charter School’s bylaws and serve without pay or other compensation. Their service is voluntary, and they do not have offices in school buildings.

The Board of Directors currently operates with three standing committees: the (1) executive committee, (2) community engagement committee, and (3) diversity equity and inclusion committee. Additionally, the Board or Board Chair may appoint additional ad-hoc committees or task forces to complete certain goals, tasks or projects.

(1) The Executive Committee (ExCom)

The Executive committee (ExCom) is comprised of the Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Community Engagement Committee Chair. The Committee serves as an advisory resource for the Board of Directors and the Executive Director and assists these entities in advancing the mission, values and strategic plans of the Lewis and Clark Montessori Charter School (LCMCS).

Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the LCMCS Bylaws, the Executive Committee is responsible for the affairs of the organization between meetings of the Board of Directors. During these intervals, the Executive Committee has the powers of the Board of Directors within the general policies, program, budget, and specific directions established by the Board of Directors.

For more information about the Executive Committee, please contact the Chair of the Board of Directors, Brian Pasko, at bpasko@lcmcs.org.

(2) Community Engagement Committee (CEC)

The Community Engagement Committee seeks to strengthen our school community by building relationships among parents and staff, promoting a culture of engagement and volunteerism, and creating opportunities to show appreciation for our School’s educators.

The CEC is comprised of a Chair (appointed by the Board) who works with school staff to select 1 or 2 room parents from each School classroom to serve on the CEC with the Chair. The Board of Directors may also appoint additional members to the CEC at the request of the CEC Chair.

To learn more about the CEC and how you can participate, please contact CEC Chair Stephany Lo at slo@lcmcs.org.

(3) The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee will advise and assist the School and its Board of Directors in our collective efforts to embrace diversity, promote equity, and create an inviting and inclusive environment for all members of our community.

The DEI Committee consists of a member of the Board of Directors and a member of the Staff, who will serve as co-chairs. The Co-chairs of the Committee will recruit 3-7 additional members, actively seeking members of historically underserved and diverse groups, regardless of representation within the school community. The Co-chairs will recommend these members to the Board of Directors for affirmation.

The general responsibilities of the DEI Committee include:

  • Developing and recommending for approval by the Board of Directors a formal School policy on diversity, equity and inclusion for our community.
  • Recommending to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors a set of goals and action items to be included in the School’s strategic plan with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Recommending to the Executive Director and Board of Directors specific activities, of an immediate or short-term nature, which can or should be implemented quickly to advance the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
  • Creating opportunities for the entire LCMCS community for learning and growth around diversity, equity, and inclusion

You may click here to express interest in serving on the DEI Committee.

Ad Hoc Committees and Task Forces

Section 6 of the School’s Bylaws provide the Board of Directors with broad authority to establish additional committees of the Board. In addition to the three Standing Committees established above, the Board will appoint additional ad-hoc committees during the course of the school year to implement specific projects or activities that advance Executive Director-Board of Director’s shared priorities.

Active LCMCS Board policies will be posted below as they are adopted and made available. If you are seeking information or documents that are not available on this site, please contact Board Chair Sara O’Brien at sobrien@lcmcs.org. Or, you may contact info@lcmcs.org or call the LCMCS front desk at (503) 427-0803 and your request will be routed to the appropriate person.

LCMCS Board Meeting Minutes will appear below as they are made available. If you are seeking information or documents that are not available on this site, please contact Board Chair Sara O’Brien at sobrien@lcmcs.org.  Or, you may contact info@lcmcs.org or call the LCMCS front desk at (503) 427-0803 and your request will be routed to the appropriate person.

LCMCS Board Meeting Agendas will appear below as they are made available. If you are seeking information or documents that are not available on this site, please contact Board Chair Sara O’Brien at sobrien@lcmcs.org.  Or, you may contact info@lcmcs.org or call the LCMCS front desk at (503) 427-0803 and your request will be routed to the appropriate person.

School Calendar

School Calendar

Meet the Board
Photo of Carolyn Luke

Carolyn Luke

Vice-Chair

Biography

Carolyn joined the LCMCS community in 2017 when her son, Sage, entered the primary program.  As a child, Carolyn attended a children’s house program and she believes that a Montessori approach to public education has the potential to build a better future for our children and our world.

Carolyn holds a B.S. in Zoology from Oregon State and has ten years of experience as a non-profit leadership professional managing animal welfare programs.  She currently manages her family’s small organic farm which supports food access to local low-income families and partners with the Clackamas County Juvenile Justice Department to provide restorative justice opportunities for local youth.

She lives in Barton with her husband and son, a flock of chickens, a herd of Nubian goats, a couple of friendly farm pups, Red Pony, and a cat named Bubba.

________________________

Board Position #1
Term Ends: June 2023
Joined Board: June 2019

Login

Board FAQs

How can I contact the Board of Directors?

To contact the Board for items within their scope, you may:

  1. E-mail the School Board Chair, Sara O’Brien at sobrien@lcmcs.org.
  2. Email the board as a whole: board@lcmcs.org
  3. Call the school’s office at (503) 427-0803 to arrange a meeting with the Board Chair or to make a special request of the Board.

Items within the School Board’s scope are outlined on this page. For questions regarding administrative functions or day-to-day activities, please send your inquiry to the School’s Front Desk or Executive Director as appropriate.  The Front Desk may be reached at 503) 427-0803 or info@lcmcs.org.  Executive Director, Courtney, McWilliams, may also be reached at (503) 427-0803 or cmcwilliams@lcmcs.org. Questions regarding a student’s educational experience should be addressed to the Director of Education, Tami O’Kinsella at (503) 427-0803 or tokinsella@lcmcs.org.

How can I speak at a Board meeting?

Anyone can speak at a Board meeting, and written comments are also welcome.

Board meetings at the Lewis and Clark Montessori School are generally small and informal. However, when the Board has a full agenda or there are a large number of attendees, more formality may be required. The Board Chair has discretion, with the advice and consent of the Board, to adjust the protocols for parents and the public to speak and engage with the Board during any meeting of the Board of Directors.  his includes setting a time limit for public comment and regulating when during the Board’s agenda the public may address the Board.

If you would like to formally address the Board of Directors during a meeting, we request that you make a written request to the Secretary.  This can be done in advance of the meeting by emailing Carolyn Lunke at cluke@lcmcs.org, or you may deliver a physical copy to the Secretary at the meeting.

Written requests sent in advance help us to adjust our meeting schedule and allow us to to give more meaningful attention to any person who wishes to discuss an issue with the Board of Directors.

For general requests, the Board of Directors or the Board Chair may designate a specific section of the meeting for public comment.  In cases where the request is related to a specific item on the Board’s agenda, the Board Chair may decide to include an opportunity for public comment as part of that agenda item for purposes of efficiency.

What does the Board do in executive session?

Pursuant to the School’s bylaws and state law, the board may discuss certain confidential matters in executive session. These matters include personnel issues, negotiations, litigation, expulsions, exempt records, and real estate matters. Due to the confidential nature of the topics discussed, executive sessions are not open to the public. However, while the Board may discuss certain issues in private, the Board may NOT make decisions or vote during an executive session. Any formal decisions or voting must take place during the public portion of a meeting of the Board of Directors.

What do the Board of Directors Do?

Click here to read about the roles and expecations of members of the Lewis and Clark Montessori School Board of Directors.

How do I become a School Board member?

New members of the Board of Directors are elected by the existing Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3 of the Lewis and Clark Montessori School Bylaws. The Board’s executive committee is tasked with recruiting, interviewing, examining the qualifications of, and recommending potential new members to be elected by the full Board of Directors.

When evaluating potential Board of Directors, the executive committee not only considers an individuals skills and commitment to the School but also assesses the needs of the Board as a whole, including the types of skills or experiences needed to ensure that the School continues to be led by a well-rounded and competent Board of Directors.

If you are interested in serving on the Lewis and Clark Montessori School Board, please click here for ore information and to “express your interest.”

How are Board members compensated?

School Board members are appointed in accordance with the Lewis and Clark Montessori Charter School’s bylaws and serve without pay or other compensation. Their service is voluntary, and they do not have offices in school buildings.

Committees

The Board of Directors currently operates with three standing committees: the (1) executive committee, (2) community engagement committee, and (3) diversity equity and inclusion committee. Additionally, the Board or Board Chair may appoint additional ad-hoc committees or task forces to complete certain goals, tasks or projects.

(1) The Executive Committee (ExCom)

The Executive committee (ExCom) is comprised of the Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Community Engagement Committee Chair. The Committee serves as an advisory resource for the Board of Directors and the Executive Director and assists these entities in advancing the mission, values and strategic plans of the Lewis and Clark Montessori Charter School (LCMCS).

Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the LCMCS Bylaws, the Executive Committee is responsible for the affairs of the organization between meetings of the Board of Directors. During these intervals, the Executive Committee has the powers of the Board of Directors within the general policies, program, budget, and specific directions established by the Board of Directors.

For more information about the Executive Committee, please contact the Chair of the Board of Directors, Brian Pasko, at bpasko@lcmcs.org.

(2) Community Engagement Committee (CEC)

The Community Engagement Committee seeks to strengthen our school community by building relationships among parents and staff, promoting a culture of engagement and volunteerism, and creating opportunities to show appreciation for our School’s educators.

The CEC is comprised of a Chair (appointed by the Board) who works with school staff to select 1 or 2 room parents from each School classroom to serve on the CEC with the Chair. The Board of Directors may also appoint additional members to the CEC at the request of the CEC Chair.

To learn more about the CEC and how you can participate, please contact CEC Chair Stephany Lo at slo@lcmcs.org.

(3) The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee will advise and assist the School and its Board of Directors in our collective efforts to embrace diversity, promote equity, and create an inviting and inclusive environment for all members of our community.

The DEI Committee consists of a member of the Board of Directors and a member of the Staff, who will serve as co-chairs. The Co-chairs of the Committee will recruit 3-7 additional members, actively seeking members of historically underserved and diverse groups, regardless of representation within the school community. The Co-chairs will recommend these members to the Board of Directors for affirmation.

The general responsibilities of the DEI Committee include:

  • Developing and recommending for approval by the Board of Directors a formal School policy on diversity, equity and inclusion for our community.
  • Recommending to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors a set of goals and action items to be included in the School’s strategic plan with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Recommending to the Executive Director and Board of Directors specific activities, of an immediate or short-term nature, which can or should be implemented quickly to advance the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
  • Creating opportunities for the entire LCMCS community for learning and growth around diversity, equity, and inclusion

You may click here to express interest in serving on the DEI Committee.

Ad Hoc Committees and Task Forces

Section 6 of the School’s Bylaws provide the Board of Directors with broad authority to establish additional committees of the Board. In addition to the three Standing Committees established above, the Board will appoint additional ad-hoc committees during the course of the school year to implement specific projects or activities that advance Executive Director-Board of Director’s shared priorities.

Policies

Active LCMCS Board policies will be posted below as they are adopted and made available. If you are seeking information or documents that are not available on this site, please contact Board Chair Sara O’Brien at sobrien@lcmcs.org. Or, you may contact info@lcmcs.org or call the LCMCS front desk at (503) 427-0803 and your request will be routed to the appropriate person.

Minutes

LCMCS Board Meeting Minutes will appear below as they are made available. If you are seeking information or documents that are not available on this site, please contact Board Chair Sara O’Brien at sobrien@lcmcs.org.  Or, you may contact info@lcmcs.org or call the LCMCS front desk at (503) 427-0803 and your request will be routed to the appropriate person.

Agendas

LCMCS Board Meeting Agendas will appear below as they are made available. If you are seeking information or documents that are not available on this site, please contact Board Chair Sara O’Brien at sobrien@lcmcs.org.  Or, you may contact info@lcmcs.org or call the LCMCS front desk at (503) 427-0803 and your request will be routed to the appropriate person.

Calendar

School Calendar

School Calendar