Butler Joins Dayton School Board

DAYTON-At their regular meeting on Oct. 7, the Dayton School District Board of Directors approved Dan Butler to fill board Position 3, recently vacated by Marchand Hovrud when she resigned at the beginning of September.

During the board meeting Butler fielded a series of questions posed to him by the directors. Butler spoke about his 35 years experience in education, as well as his vision for the school district.

"Education is my hobby, my life. Everything I do is around education," he told the directors.

Butler, a Waitsburg native, received his teaching credentials in 1978 from Eastern Washington University. He taught business and marketing education in the Mead School District in Spokane for eleven years.

He then received his principal credentials in 1990 while interning under Principal Jerry Scott at Waitsburg High School. From 1990-1996 Butler was the Waitsburg High School principal for grades seven through twelve.

The Learning School, an alternative school for Waitsburg and Dayton students owes its existence to Butler, as well. Butler spent three years in that endeavor.

The years from 2001-2014 saw Butler back at the Mead School District in Spokane where he served as a career and technology education director, an executive director of both the Technology and Career and Technology Education programs, and as an assistant superintendent.

Toward the end of his career at Mead, Butler oversaw all three of those operations, and he helped to develop a science, technology, engineering and mathematics school as well. The STEM school, called Riverpoint Academy, is still in operation, he said.

"I loved it. I like being busy," said Butler.

When asked to define the role of school board members Butler said that board members should ask tough questions of themselves, have a strategic plan, collaborate on problems, look for solutions and try to reach consensus. He told the directors that he values teamwork and speaking as one voice.

Butler pointed out that his years of service as an assistant superintendent gives him valuable experience in the areas of perspective, teacher culture, and with relationship to the community. He also addressed the need for a strong ongoing public relations campaign to promote the upcoming levy.

"I have a strong interest in Dayton," said Butler. "I think I have some things I can offer."

Butler and his wife Ginny are both from fourth generation Waitsburg and Dayton families, and have lived in Dayton off and on for many years.

"The core of this community is our children," Butler said. "I think by working in this area I have an idea of what community can be. Dayton can be a healthy place to raise kids."

Butler will finish the remainder of Hovrud's term, which ends in December (see sidebar Page 1).