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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories SOU launches arts institute for high school students Bacteria plague parts of Bear, Neil creeks 10 things to know for Friday Art museum hosts free family day Garden Tour celebrates 20th year Education SOU launches arts institute for high school students New term, same faces Kiwanis Club honors two Ashland High School students When it comes to summer, the play's the thing Willow Wind concert is Tuesday Environment Bacteria plague parts of Bear, Neil creeks Hanging out by Lithia Park Mountain Bird Festival attracts birders to Ashland Demonstrators hope to save tree Documentary 'When Giants Fall' tells tragic story of elephant poaching Business Mountain Bird Festival attracts birders to Ashland Cars We Remember: More from a MOPAR enthusiast Customers, staff, lament Ashland Beanery closing Silvio Calabi: Hyundai Santa Fe still surprises The Beanery coffeehouse closes abruptly Politics and elections New term, same faces Budget committee nixes solar farm, AHS-to-SOU scholarships Welcome Center plans can proceed Ashland council to consider water rate surcharge, Welcome Center agreement Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent State News Proposed Oregon coast golf course yields rare deal with state Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average Lack of snow nixes ski portion of popular Central Oregon race Nation - World Uh oh .... 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Price Death Notices Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Carlson promises more running, winning McKelvey finds right fit at Cal State Fullerton Ashland doubles team, singles player roll into 5A championship matches Kelly McElroy: Always follow your heart, as a sports fan O'Brien keeps four-peat hopes alive at state High school McKelvey finds right fit at Cal State Fullerton Ashland doubles team, singles player roll into 5A championship matches O'Brien keeps four-peat hopes alive at state Grizzlies push defending 6A champs but fall in extras O'Brien goes for rare four-peat Southern Oregon University Carlson promises more running, winning Ashland doubles team, singles player roll into 5A championship matches O'Brien keeps four-peat hopes alive at state Former Oregon Tech great Carlson named SOU's next women's basketball coach SOU's sweet 16 heads to nationals Voices Latest Stories Matthew T. Mangino: The promise of legal representation often not fulfilled Our View: Paying by the mile Letters to the Editor, May 29 Jeffrey Gillespie: Crystal clear on water safety Arthur I. Cyr: U.S. Senate trade vote reflects long-term history Editorial Our View: Paying by the mile Our View: Sad end to an era Our View: Hear that train a-comin' Our View: Common sense prevails Our View: Bravo, Ashland voters Letters Letters to the Editor, May 29 Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 19 Letters to the Editor, May 14 (No heading) Guest opinions Guest Opinion: A day in the life of ScienceWorks Guest Opinion: Ambrose spins a conservative fantasy Guest Opinion: Restoring the Plaza's sense of place Guest Opinion: Making conservation a game Columns Jeffrey Gillespie: Crystal clear on water safety Whodunit? Nobodydunit Council Corner: Affordable housing facts are hard to ignore GOP's war on the poor Jeffrey Gillespie: The Bernie Sanders factor Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Movie listings: May 29-June 2 5 picks for live entertainment Victorian-era film 'Madding' engages Community blog: A New Beginning Oregon Cabaret Theatre stages gritty 'Cabaret' Theater Ticket Availability SOU digs deep into 'The Winter's Tale' Ticket Availability Theater ticket availability Oregon Cabaret Theatre stages gritty 'Cabaret' Music The Farr Side: ‘American Idol’ could have continued much longer 'Night Train to Memphis' The Farr Side: Swift dominates Billboard Music Awards Interview: Country mainstay T. 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Bacteria plague parts of Bear, Neil creeks ... Our View: Paying by the mile ... SOU launches arts institute for high school students ... Bacteria plague parts of Bear, Neil creeks ... Our View: Paying by the mile ... ASHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT New term, same faces Board members Williams, Strong quietly voted back in, look ahead to next term By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted May. 27, 2015 @ 8:27 pm Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:28 PM By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted May. 27, 2015 @ 8:27 pm Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:28 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> With little attention and less fanfare, Ashland School District kept its five-member school board intact when vice chairman John Williams and Eric Strong, both running unopposed, cruised to easy victories in the May 19 Jackson County election. According to unofficial results posted on the county’s website, Williams received 99.17 percent of the vote, or 3,307 votes, for position one to secure his second four-year term on the board, and Strong received 99.28 percent of the vote (3,297 votes) to secure his first four-year term at position five. Williams, 48, a software developer and entrepreneur, moved to Ashland from the Bay Area in 2005, essentially joining the rest of his extended family, whose Ashland roots can be traced back to the notorious DeAutremont Train Robbery of 1923 (Williams’ grandfather, Clarence Williams, was a federal inspector dispatched to Ashland from Washington, D.C., to investigate the botched gold heist; he fell in love with the town and eventually moved here with his family). Williams, whose 12-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter attend public schools in Ashland, was the Parent Teacher Association president at Helman Elementary from 2009 through 2011, the year he was first voted onto the school board. Board members are not paid for their service — an inside joke states that they must pay to be on the board, since the once-a-month lunch with ASD superintendent Jay Hummel is not covered by the city — but for Williams, it’s a worthwhile public service that requires, he estimates, about 16 to 20 hours a month. “Primarily, because my kids are in public schools and there was a need on the school board and I have the time, so it fit perfectly with my interest and my professional life,” he said, when asked why he originally signed up. “And it’s just giving back to the community. I started off as the PTA president at Helman Elementary and got to know how the school board works because I frequently would be the only person attending board meetings. And so it was a logical move.” Williams said the biggest challenge facing the district right now is its recent influx of new leadership. Helman Elementary, Walker Elementary and Ashland High School each will have new principals next school year. Glenna Stiles is leaving Helman, Patricia Michiels is leaving Walker and Michelle Zundel is leaving AHS. The district will also need to replace Director of Business Services Greg Lecuyer, who stepped down in April. “Right now,” he said, “the most important thing is making sure we have a smooth transition in a wide variety of jobs. We’re hoping that the changes will be fairly smooth.” Williams said time and experience has made him a better school board member and he’s excited to take on the next challenge. “I really feel like the first four years was spent getting to know how the district runs and getting to know the people involved in making the decisions,” he said. “So now, for a second term, I really feel comfortable in my position. There’s a huge learning curve in trying to understand a $25 million organization that has campuses spread out throughout the city and hundreds of employees, so there’s a lot to learn.” Strong, 46, a microfinance lender/investor, has been on the board for less than a year after stepping in following a resignation last year and is looking forward to his first four-year term. A father of two girls who attend public schools in ASD, Strong felt compelled to throw his hat in the ring after the position opened up and is glad he did. “I knew some of the folks on the board who I respected and I liked what they were able to accomplish and the way that they did it,” he said. “So that’s a piece of it, and the other is that it’s just a chance to serve our community in another way.” Strong said that the budget is the most important issue facing the district right now, as usual. “I would say that’s far and away our biggest challenge every year,” he said. As far as the changing of the guards goes, he points to the fact that the district filled the principal openings from within, which is always a good sign. “It’s fantastic to be able to find exceptional candidates within our own district and a real testament to the strength of our administration and teachers,” he said. Though he’s relatively new to the position, Strong says he’s already learned the value of perspective. Looking at the district as a whole when tackling the big issues, he said, is crucial. “I think with any board position, keeping the big-picture view is important because there are many different stakeholders in our community,” he said. “We need to be sure to consider all those voices when making decisions.” Joe Zavala can be reached at 541-821-0829 or [email protected]. By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted May. 27, 2015 @ 8:27 pm Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:28 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Fantasy Football Outlook for Cowboys Stars May. 29, 2015 at 2:26 am Fantasy Breakdown of Top Quarterbacks May. 24, 2015 at 2:51 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Patriots' Stars May. 22, 2015 at 6:05 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Eagles Stars May. 18, 2015 at 12:35 am Early Fantasy Football Rankings May. 17, 2015 at 4:22 am Fantasy Football Stars Likely to Disappoint May. 15, 2015 at 2:02 am calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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