A Legal Requirement
Washington state law RCW 28A.343.360 specifically requires that every person elected or appointed to the office of school director must “take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States and the state of Washington and to faithfully discharge the duties of the office according to the best of his or her ability.”
Not Taking the Oath Creates a Vacancy
Failure to take the oath, or an intentional misstatement of the oath, results in the elected individual not being permitted by law to hold the position. In short, it creates a vacancy on the board that the remaining members are obligated to fill.
Altering the Language Creates Liability
Simply drafting a policy that removes the required part of the oath does not correct the problem any more than telling a law officer that you have a policy that allows you to drive 100mph. Removing the Washington state constitutional language would put the district in direct violation of RCW 28A.343.360, potentially creating legal liability and invalidating the oath of office.
Therefore, duly appointed or elected school board members or the district cannot intentionally change, augment or delete any language from the oath of office.
Model Policy for Oath of Office
1111 Oath of Office
Examples of policy put into practice: