New Warden school board member talks priorities

WARDEN — After a few meetings serving on the Warden School Board, the district’s newest board member Tiffany Hymas discussed some of her goals, priorities and perspectives going into her appointed term. 

During their April 25 meeting, the school board approved Hymas’s appointment to board position 2, which had been vacant since January after former board member Dave Whitney left the position. Hymas will serve the remainder of the term, through the end of 2025.

Hymas elaborated on why she applied to become a board member. 

“I was born and raised and I went to school through the district here,” she said. “I have five kids now that are in the district. My oldest will be starting high school in the fall and my youngest will be starting kindergarten, and I just wanted to be a part of it. I feel like Warden schools have such great potential. I just want to make sure they meet that.”

Hymas said she is neighbors with Whitney, who told her would be stepping down. Hymas said it took her a little while to consider applying for the position.

“I just think someone has to do it and I definitely want it to be someone who has my same values and goals for the community,” she said.

Hymas said her interview with the board went well. 

“It was good,” she said. “There were a lot of familiar faces at the interview, so it wasn't too bad.”

Hymas touched on what she believes some of the district’s priorities should be. 

“I think Warden is a very conservative area and we're big on community and I just want to make sure that continues, that the school (district) continues to serve the community in the way that the community wants it to serve and what they need,” she said. “I mean, it's all about the kids and the kids reaching that potential, whether it be trade schools or college or whatever, just to help them do what they want to do with their lives.”

Hymas talked about some specific focuses she wants for the district. 

“I think teacher retention and keeping that sense of community … that same sense (that) we're all in this together, we're all wanting (students) to succeed,” she said. “I think that makes a huge difference for kids who maybe are not getting that from their home life or they don't have someone cheering them on.”

Hymas said this is her first time serving on a board, but her experience does include working with youth outside of her own children.

“I worked with kids a lot through my church and in other areas, and I just want what's best for them. I want someone to be their advocate in this big world,” she said. “I'd like to see all the kids, from whatever circumstances they come from, meet their potential, whatever that might be, and I would love to help shape the policies to make that happen.”

Communication is another aspect Hymas said she wants to prioritize.

“I definitely would like there to be a little more transparency between the community and administration so that we can all be on the same team,” she said. “I think that would be the biggest win, if we could all be on the same team, realizing that we're just all trying to do what's best for the students.”

Hymas said preserving the board’s local autonomy is another area she is focused on, as well as a factor in her decision to apply for the position.

“There are a lot of things that have come down from the state that I don't agree with,” she said. “Living in the state that we're living in compared to living in the community that we're living in, I think we just need to be careful of how we implement the policies that come down from the state to make sure that our community's values are held intact.”

Community and school growth is another aspect Hymas said she has considered.

“That's something that I brought up in my interview; we're going to have to grow as our community grows, as a school, and we'll definitely have to make changes if necessary,” she said. “We've had new kids come in; I haven't seen a huge change in the way the school treats the students and at this point I'm not concerned that they're going to get lost in the shuffle.”

With five students in the Warden School District, Hymas said she can help provide a parent’s perspective on the board’s operations.

“That's one of the things I feel like I can bring to the board,” she said. “I have five kids here. It affects me tremendously what the kids are learning and what the schools are doing and so I think I can lend that voice (since) I'm the one who brings my kids to school, I'm the one who sees them right after school and I really have to put that trust in the school with my kids every day.”

Hymas said it will take a little bit of time to acclimate to her position as a board member and all the responsibilities that come with it, but she said she is observing and learning and becoming acquainted with how the board operates. 

“I think I'm just excited to be maybe a little bit bigger part of the community and maybe a voice and a listening ear too,” she said. “I'm excited to serve and I'm excited to hopefully get to know people better and get to know our students better, and I really do want to do what's best for the students, and I want to know what they think is best … this should be an open conversation.”

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com.

    Warden School Board member Tiffany Hymas, left, listens to discussion and checks notes during the May 9 regular meeting in the Warden High School Library.
  

    Warden Middle School students shoot a rocket into the air during a school activity in front of the Warden water tower next to the school district campus. Warden’s newest board member, Tiffany Hymas, said she hopes to be an advocate for students across the district.