**Learn more about SDAO's different academies with this 20-minute webinar.**

Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO) and Oregon Fire District Directors Association (OFDDA) recognize that being appointed or elected to a fire district board comes with great responsibility. Staying educated on the rules and regulations that govern special districts is extremely important.

The SDAO/OFDDA Fire District Directors Academy has been designed to ensure that Oregon’s fire district directors have all the tools necessary to provide superior leadership and governance to their communities. Our program offers current, in-depth training and education opportunities in several areas including board member basics, statutory obligations, fire service, risk management, and human resources.

Participants can individualize their course of study to fit their unique needs with three different certificate tracks. Bronze, silver, gold, and platinum certificates are available to those that finish the corresponding module requirements.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

District directors that participate in this program will:

• Better understand the roles and responsibilities of being a fire district director
• Learn the regulations and risks facing special districts
• Develop board leadership skills
• Gain a broad understanding of special district governance

ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT

To participate in the program, participants must be a current board member, director or commissioner of an Oregon special district. The district must be a member of Oregon Fire District Directors Association.

Eligible individuals will need to complete an enrollment form and submit it to SDAO Member Services (memberservices@sdao.com) to enroll. There is no charge to enroll and no obligation to finish. The only cost for the program is the cost to attend trainings.

PROGRAM CURRICULUM

There are five educational modules within the Fire District Directors Academy. Various educational opportunities are available for each module and each training will be available through courses provided by SDAO and approved affiliate organizations. In-person trainings will be held at regional trainings, conferences, and other events. Online options are also available. Credit-eligible courses will be specifically indicated within the course description during online registration and on any course marketing materials.

PROGRAM MODULES

Below are the program modules and required trainings for each. All trainings must be completed in order to receive credit for the module. Trainings must be provided by SDAO or OFDDA.

Module 1: Board Member Basics

• Powers and Protections
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Representing the Board
• Ordinances and Resolutions
• Ethics
• Public Meetings

Module 2: Statutory Responsibilities

• Public Records
• Public Contracting
• Local Budgeting and Finance

Module 3: Risk Management

• Analyzing Exposure to Risk
• Disaster Preparedness
• ADA Compliance
• General Risk Management
• Succession Planning

Module 4: Human Resources

• Evaluating your Executive Director/General Manager/Fire Chief
• Harassment 
• Wrongful Termination
• Workplace Equity/Cultural Diversity
• Discrimination

Module 5: Fire Service

• Collective Bargaining with Firefighters
• Cooperative Service Arrangements
• Measuring Emergency Service Delivery Performance
• Overview of Regulatory Agencies

Participants can receive a bronze, silver, gold, or platinum certificate after completing certain modules. All trainings within a module must be completed to receive credit for that module.   

Bronze Certificate

Participants will need to complete modules 1-2 to receive a bronze level certificate.

Silver Certificate

Participants will need to complete bronze level requirements and module 3 to receive a silver level certificate.

Gold Certificate

Participants will need to complete silver level requirements and module 4 to receive a gold level certificate.

Platinum Certificate

Participants will need to complete gold level requirements and module 5 to receive a platinum level certificate.

Participants will have three years to complete the requirements for the bronze certificate. There is no time requirement to achieve silver, gold and platinum levels; however, the bronze-level certificate must be earned within three years from the date of enrollment before silver and gold can be awarded.

TRACKING AND COMPLETION OF PROGRAM

This is a self-tracked, self-paced program. Participants must track their own progress using their self-tracking worksheet. SDAO will not track credits. SDAO will provide attendance confirmations following each training to facilitate tracking progress. When all trainings have been completed, individuals can apply for their certificate(s) by submitting their tracking worksheet and attendance confirmations to memberservices@sdao.com.

In order to receive credit for trainings, participants must:

• Complete the self-tracking worksheet (SDAO does not track credits).
• Attach copies of attendance confirmations for all trainings.
• Submit all documents to memberservices@sdao.com or by mail to PO Box 12613, Salem, OR 97309. If materials are sent by mail, we HIGHLY encourage you to make copies for your records. Sometimes, mail is not reliable and can get lost.

Upon receipt of the above, participants will receive a certificate of completion. We encourage individuals to continue staying informed, regularly updating their knowledge, and taking additional training on local government issues even after finishing the program.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please contact SDAO Member Services at 800-285-5461 or memberservices@sdao.com.