SCHOOL BOARD

The White Salmon Valley School Board plays a crucial role in maintaining the standards of educational excellence for the community. The board believes that involved and informed parents and citizens are vital to the district's success. The district is governed by a five-member elected board, whose primary function is to establish policies, set educational standards and goals, review all phases of the district's instructional programs and to oversee financial, property and facilities needs of the district.

Contacting the Board

Correspondence to the Board of Education can be addressed to:

Administration Office
White Salmon Valley School District 405-17
P.O. Box 157
White Salmon, WA 98672

The White Salmon Valley District is divided into 5 different districts, shown on the district boundary map below. Board members must reside in their geographic area, though are elected by voters throughout the entire school district.
Board of Director Boundaries

District

Board Member

Term Expires

1

Kris Ostness

2027

2

Matthew Byrne

2027

3

Pat Dempsey

2025

4

Laurie Stanton

2027

5

Peter Harkema

2025

What Does the Board Do?

The directors play a crucial role in maintaining the standards of educational excellence for the community and know the importance of keeping the community informed about activities of the Board and of the District schools.

The Board's responsibilities include the formation and adoption of policies consistent with state and federal law and with the considered interest of students, staff and community. Other board activities include securing money for operational needs, authorizing major expenditures, authorizing the purchase or sale of school property, giving final authority to the hiring and discharge of personnel, setting educational standards and goals, reviewing and evaluating all phases of the district's instructional programs and other operations, and expressing and representing the views of the community.

Existing district policies are available online.

The Board appoints the District's chief administrative officer, the superintendent. The members of the Board serve without compensation.