Newly elected county commissioners, judges, and their high-level staff can better serve Josephine County by attending County College, a series of five monthly training sessions provided through the Association of Oregon Counties and OSU Extension Service. Running alternate years, the program, which began in 2006, offers comprehensive overviews of government ethics, public meetings, county finance, community development, health and human services, veterans, public safety, natural resources, economic development, transportation, and more. 

Classroom learning is combined with hands-on experience, including visits to state agencies and facilities. Attendance also provides an opportunity for networking and developing working relationships with other counties.

It remains a concern that all new Josephine County Commissioners don’t seize this opportunity. Although prior commissioners such as Lily Morgan and Dan De Young actively participated, attendance has been sporadic among the current board members; Andreas Blech and Ron Smith have not attended but Chris Barnett has completed the five sessions. Participation not only enhances the commissioners' ability to address complex issues but also demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and community engagement. Making this a requirement for new county commissioners should be considered.