The Woodland School District Board of Directors

The Woodland School District Board of Directors consists of five school board members, elected by ballot by the registered voters of the district. Except as otherwise provided by law, board members hold office for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. The terms of board members are staggered as provided by law.

The school board acts as the policy-making body of the district and is responsible and accountable for planning, policy, advocacy, and evaluation. Working within a framework of state and federal laws, the board provides direction for the district, approving policies, making financial decisions, determining building needs, and approving the budget. The board regularly reviews the progress of the district.

 

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

District #1
Jim Bays
360-225-7268 | jbaysfamily@yahoo.com

Jim is a long time native of Woodland. His family has lived in the community since the 1940s. He and his wife Sharlene have two grown children, Jeff, age 22 and Laura, age 19. Both received their high school diplomas through the Woodland School District.

Jim is a finance manager in the motorcycle and ATV industry. He is a Class of 1971 Woodland High School graduate and has an Associate of Arts degree from Clark College.

Jim has been on the Woodland School Board since 1972. His involvement in high school student government as Associate Student Body President led him to have an interest in school governance and an interest in the direction of Woodland schools.

“I wanted to serve my community and felt that being fresh out of the system would give me a unique perspective.”

District #2
Janice Watts
360-225-9349 | jkwatts1@juno.com

Janice was raised in Woodland and attended Woodland schools. After graduating, she focused her attention to the banking field. Janice has now lived in Woodland for the last 19 years. She and her husband currently have three children in Woodland schools and one graduated; Marcus, 19, Nick, 17, Jessica, 15 and Jon, 12.

As a parent and member of the community, Janice is very interested in our children's education in our fast-growing School District.

District #3
Tina Cayton
360-225-9337| tina.cayton@gmail.com

Tina has lived in Woodland for 36 years and loves this community. She has two children, Erica Hurn, 18 and Trevor Hurn, 15 who currently attend Woodland High School. They are very involved in sports and school activities and Tina enjoys attending their events.

In the past Tina has been involved with Woodland Beaver Boosters. Currently, she is the Corporate Materials Manager at USNR in Woodland where she has been employed for the past 20 years.

"I am extremely excited to contribute to the growth, education and professional development of our students and community."

District #4
Bill Woodard
360-608-8629 |billwoodard43@gmail.com

Bill has been a resident of Woodland since 1987. He has two sons, Hayden, a WHS graduate and student at Western Washington University, and Sam, who attends Woodland Public Schools.

Bill has a Bachelors degree from the University of Washington and is a certified Dale Carnegie instructor. He now runs The Letter Box in Woodland.

The main reason Bill wants to be on the Woodland School Board is to help maintain a high level of education for all Woodland students.

"The biggest challenge we are facing is the continued growth in Woodland. Our schools are full and this places a strain on staff to maintain the level in instruction that is expected of them."

District #5
Steve Madsen
360-957-4578 | sb.madsen@hotmail.com

 

Steve Madsen, represents Director District 5, and works as a land use and environmental attorney in Southwest Washington. He and his wife Janet are the proud parents of daughter Erin, who will be in first grade at Woodland Primary School this fall.

Steve is active in the local outdoor community and is a three-time veteran of the 1100-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race across Alaska. In the fall and winter, you might see Steve training his dogsled team on the logging roads in the Yale Valley or at the snow parks near Mt. St. Helens.

Helping the Woodland School District pass a high school bond is one of Steve's top priorities. Steve, a longtime Cowlitz County resident, moved to the area with his family in 1969. He graduated from Kelso High School in 1983. Steve holds a B.S. in economics, a Master's Degree in Business Administration, and a Law Degree from Westminster University.

 

Woodland Board of Directors 2009-2010 District Goals

 

1. The FIRST priority of our school system will be student learning. To this end it is our goal that every student will be taught by skilled, high-quality teachers who provide effective and high-quality instruction, and who are equipped with necessary tools and training. Elements of this goal will consider:

• Effective hiring practices.
• Effective professional development, including expansion of support for National Board Certification of Teachers.
• Effective evaluation, mentorship, and other practices to assist employees.
• Ongoing evaluation of curriculum and technology tools.

2. A Quality Learning Environment is important to effective learning. In order to provide a quality learning environment:

• School and District buildings will be maintained in a high standard of cleanliness, safety, and order.
• Ongoing and timely preventative maintenance will be performed.
• Replacement of the current Woodland High School will be a priority.
• Planning for growth will be a proactive process, taking into consideration impacts of potential growth from changes in the economic, housing, and business environment of Woodland and surrounding communities.

3. Our schools will provide opportunities for students to be exposed to and acquire twenty-first century career options and work skills. The District will explore opportunities to enhance career and technical education of students through:

• Effective partnerships with Community Colleges, business, industry, the Clark County Skills Center, and professional organizations and individuals.
• Adjustment and/or enhancement of career and technical education offerings in our secondary schools.

4. Effective, two-way communication with our entire community is essential to maintaining and building trusting relationships with the community. Improving communication through the implementation of methods of communication will be employed as part of a District-wide communication plan, including but not limited to:

• Increased use of electronic media.
• Public meetings focused on interactive engagement.
• Focus groups that target various demographic groups within the community.
• Additional targeted strategies to reach community members without children in the public school system will be employed.

5. The District will remain fiscally healthy through prudent and conservative fiscal management. Indicators of such management will be:

• Maintenance of a modest, yet healthy fund balance in the General Fund (4%-6%).
• Operating with a balanced budget (revenues, without inter-fund transfers, equaling expenditures).
• Identifying and implementing efficiencies in purchasing, contracting, and operations.

6. An effective School Board is essential to the success of the School District. The School Board will commit to improving their collective skills through:

• Annual self-assessment.
• Participation in Board Development activities.