The COSA Board of Directors voted last week not to raise membership dues for 2017-18. 

This marks the seventh consecutive year that the Board has chosen to forego a dues increase. 

Prior to the Great Recession, the COSA Board had a longstanding practice of considering dues rates based on a formula that takes into account the average administrator salary in Oregon.  If the Board had followed the formula over the past decade, dues would have grown gradually by about $140 per year.  Since 2007-08, however, the Board has voted to increase COSA dues only once, in 2010, by $10 per year.

“We have strived to improve member services and supports while keeping dues costs constant,” COSA President Matt Thatcher said.  “At the same time, we have added the COSA Leads licensure and degree program, continued to grow and improve COSA’s professional learning program, and expanded our capacity to advocate for members, schools and students.

“We have also focused on increasing the number of school leaders we serve.  Since 2011-12, COSA membership has grown from 1,809 members, to an all-time high of 2,334 members this year,” Thatcher said.

Over the next several months, a COSA Board subcommittee will conduct a dues and membership study, and provide a report and recommendations to the full Board early next year.

Since 2010, COSA dues have remained at $535, plus $60 for the member’s appropriate principal, superintendent or central office association (OESPA, OASSA, OACOA, OASE).