Dinius resigns from Washougal school board

Ron Dinius has resigned from the Washougal School District board of directors.

“I have been honored to serve with each of you as we helped guide the district in providing the best educational opportunities and environment for our students to thrive and succeed, now and into the future,” Dinius stated in a letter to Washougal school board members Cory Chase, Angela Hancock, Donna Sinclair and Jim Cooper.

“We have a district that we can be proud of,” Dinius stated, “and I have the utmost confidence in each one of your abilities and wisdom in guiding the future of the district and better outcomes for our students.”

Dinius came to Washougal in 1978 as a construction project manager for the Camas paper mill and later owned and operated Country Crafters, a furniture-manufacturing business, with his wife, Tammy. He retired in 2011.

Dinius, who joined the WSD board in 2006, spent years volunteering at his children’s Washougal schools and served as president of the parent advisory committee at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School.

“Ron has been an integral part of the Washougal School District,” Chase said. “He has worked diligently to move the district forward in a positive direction. He has volunteered countless hours to ensure our community provides the best possible opportunities for our young people. He spent time with me going over historical information, budgets, facilities, curriculum, policy governance and teaching me about what it truly meant to serve the community as a school board director.”

In 2015, the Washington State School Director’s Association’s Leadership Cohort Board of Governance named Dinius as a charter member.

“Ron has been such a tireless advocate for the Washougal School District and has always kept students at the heart of the decision-making process,” said WSD superintendent Mary Templeton. “His keen interest in the legislative aspect of leadership has been much appreciated and critical in helping our elected officials understand the support we need to see WSD rise.”

The school board has started a search for Dinius’ replacement. The appointed school board member will serve through 2021.