**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

A curriculum of study has been developed for each module and each training will be available through in-person courses provided by SDAO and OFDDA. Trainings will be held in-person at regional trainings and conferences. Online options will also be made available. Credit-eligible courses will be specifically marked with the SDAO/OFDDA Fire District Directors Academy logo within the course description 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: Fire Service

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

Module 4: Risk Management

• Analyzing Exposure to Risk
• ADA Compliance
• General Risk Management
• Contingency Plans: Disaster Preparedness and Succession Planning

Module 5: Human Resources

• Evaluating your Executive Director/General Manager/Fire Chief
• Harassment and Discrimination
• Wrongful Termination
• Cultural Diversity
• Fair Labor and Standards Act

Participants can receive a bronze, silver, or gold 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

Participants will track their progress by using the self-tracking worksheet. Certificates will be provided to attendees at each training to facilitate tracking progress. When all trainings have been completed, individuals can apply for program certificate(s) by submitting their tracking worksheet and training certificates to memberservices@sdao.com.

Participants that successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of completion, recognition at the SDAO Annual Conference and OFDDA Annual Conference, mention on SDAO’s social media and newsletter, and mention in the OFDDA Communiqué newsletter.