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Willard will take Forest Grove job Phoenix-Talent superintendent's wife lives in Portland By DAMIAN MANN PHOENIX - After 12 years as superintendent of the Phoenix-Talent School District, Dave Willard has taken a job as assistant superintendent of Forest Grove School District, west of Portland. "I have a heavy heart about this," said Willard. "I have been here a long time." All three of his sons graduated from Phoenix High School. He said recent events at the district had nothing to do with his decision. The school system has faced budget cuts, debates over inter-district transfers and a continuing legal battle to strip the high school student body president, Keanon Ferguson, of his title after he was caught with marijuana on campus. Despite the upheavals of the past year, 51-year-old Willard cites "purely personal reasons" for taking the new job. His wife, Jana, has been living in Seattle for the past year, working on her degree in counseling. "She's moved back to Portland," said Willard. "She's going to continue in school to get her master's in counseling." With his wife living so far away, Willard had earlier told school board members and others that he was looking for a job. On Monday, the 6,500-student Forest Grove School District, which is twice the size of Phoenix-Talent, told him he could start his new job in July. Phoenix Elementary Principal Lynn Calhoun said, "He really is the heart and soul of this district." She believes his decision was purely personal. "He's really torn over this," she said. "He's as upset about this as we are." Calhoun said Willard has been responsible for hiring everybody on the district's administrative team. Sad about Willard's imminent departure, Calhoun believes he has done well steering the district through difficult times. "In the face of controversy, he looks for win-win in situations," she said. Willard cited many of his accomplishments at the Phoenix-Talent District. "I'm so proud of the staff," he said. "They do as much or more with less money. People work harder and harder, although they can only do that for so long. But we are a kids-first district." When he first arrived, he worked to overcome problems with a bond measure that eventually was used to remodel Phoenix High School. Last year, voters approved a $16.2 million bond to upgrade all the schools in the district. "I'm very proud of our dual language program," Willard said. "It has received statewide recognition." Willard said he started his educational career in New York, but then moved to the Winston-Dillard School District, then to Cottage Grove. Phoenix-Talent is the third district at which he has been a superintendent. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.