Jim Williams

West Valley School Board, unchallenged incumbent

Personal: Age 57 … businessman … has lived in community almost 40 years … married, five children, one of whom still lives at home … loves whitewater boating on the Snake River … 14 years on school board.

Education: Graduated from high school in Burbank, Calif., and from Glendale Community College … Favorite class, English, least favorite, math … Now reading “Undaunted Courage,” a biography of Meriwether Lewis.

Issues: To carry out the state Education Reform Act … continue establishing the essential learnings.

“I get concerned every time I hear someone say, well, we’ve got to change the schools … We’re embarked on a serious journey with the essential learnings, and we’ve got to make it work.”

Accomplishments: Established Contract Based Education and support of the Spokane Valley High School … Establishing and revising the district’s strategic plan … Strong involvement of the community in the schools…

If I were king for a day: “I think West Valley has among the finest staff of teachers anywhere in the country. But the continuing contract is something that’s really very difficult. We can’t offer any incentives, we can’t take any action against a teacher that’s not really doing the job.”

, DataTimes