While many thought no one would challenge the Corvallis School Board for re-election, on the last day to file, two community members announced their candidacy for district 1. The Corvallis Incumbent Dr. Sami Al-Abdrabbuh is facing off against two challengers. Al-Abdrabbuh, is known for his leadership as a two-time elected board member and his tenure as board chair. He has run for State Legislature, Congress, County Commissioner, and roles within the Oregon and National School Board Association, all while serving his obligations to Corvallis schools.
Dr. Al-Abdrabbuh’s resume reads like a who’s who of local leadership, boasting his role as the President of the Oregon School Board Association and his national recognition as the Pacific Region Director for the National School Board Association. His work spans education, technology, and nonprofit sectors. However, some have questioned whether his numerous accomplishments truly reflect his impact on local education.
In particular, while Al-Abdrabbuh takes credit for major strides in graduation rates, access to mental health resources, and the creation of rental assistance programs, some suggest that these claims may be more about optics than substantive change. Al-Abdrabbuh has credited himself with steering a $200 million bond initiative, but critics point to issues like persistent class size increases, lack of effective resource allocation, and continuing achievement gaps in Corvallis schools, despite his leadership.
In an exclusive interview, challenger Chris Blacker, a parent of two elementary-aged children, vented his frustrations with the current state of the district. “We need to focus our resources where they make the greatest impact: in the classroom, with students and teachers,” Blacker said. He pointed out that administrative costs have been rising, while critical services like art, library programs, and math/science offerings have been cut back due to budget constraints. “Equity has to be more than a mission statement. Title I schools should never receive fewer services than their counterparts.”
Blacker’s experience as a teacher and technology director in K–8 schools in North Carolina gives him a unique perspective on the challenges facing Corvallis schools. He emphasized his commitment to improving academic outcomes, particularly for students in underserved communities. One of his primary goals is to address the district’s declining student enrollment and stabilize elementary school numbers before further closures become inevitable. “The data is clear,” Blacker said. “If we don’t act now, we’ll be closing a middle school by 2031 and a high school by 2033.”
Blacker also challenged the current leadership’s stance on class sizes, arguing that the district’s claims that class size doesn’t matter above 17 students are misguided. “Research and common sense say otherwise,” he noted. Blacker advocates for reducing class sizes to improve educational outcomes and ensure students receive the support they need.
Another challenger, Charlotte Trask Willer, also brings a fresh perspective to the race. A graduate of Corvallis High School and a local businesswoman, Willer is motivated by her connection to the community. “I have always been proud of the education I received and the success of my classmates,” she said. “Now, as a parent, my kids are going through this same system. I want to ensure that my children and their peers get the best education possible.”
Willer emphasizes her extensive background in the community. She has volunteered in classrooms and engaged with teachers and parents over the past decade. She believes the school board should represent a variety of perspectives. “I’m a good listener and like to hear all sides of an idea before forming my own conclusions,” she explained.
Her top priorities include supporting teachers and students by ensuring healthy and safe learning environments, focusing on each child’s full academic and social potential, and addressing the district’s declining enrollment numbers to stabilize finances. Willer also believes the district should focus on improving its public image and reducing administrative overhead to retain families within the district.
“People excel in different ways,” Willer said when asked about Advanced Placement (AP) and higher-level courses. “Supporting students’ learning to their greatest ability is the meaning of successful education to me. I support AP classes in the same way I support special education programs—they are all necessary.”
When it comes to the district’s financial challenges, Willer believes budget cuts to extracurricular programs (not specified) as detrimental to both students and the district. She stresses that the district must reduce administrative costs and focus on academics and extracurriculars to avoid losing more students to other school systems.
Willer also touched on the district’s ongoing issue of imbalanced enrollment, especially between Crescent Valley and Corvallis High School. “I think the school district needs to work with the City of Corvallis to support affordable housing developments,” she said, explaining that attracting young families to the area would help stabilize enrollment numbers. Willer also supports offering more support to students who transfer between schools, acknowledging that some families may face logistical challenges due to transportation.
As the race continues to heat up, Blacker’s focus on equity and drastic action to support Corvallis Schools and Trask Willer’s emphasis on academic rigor and support offer a strong contrast to Al-Abdrabbuh’s long track record of leadership. With this being a small race, there is little information available to gauge who will be the winner but without a doubt, Al-Abdrabbuh has the largest fundraising and community machine built on his previous candidacies. This will be sure to provide him with a starting advantage.
The Crescent Crier 