Woodland — Jim Bays was first elected to the Woodland School District Board of Directors in 1973 when he was 19, and on Nov. 23, he was honored for his 42 years of service to the board at his last meeting before retiring.
“I was always interested in politics, having served as both the vice president and president of my high school’s (Associated Student Body) while I attended, and I felt that I had a lot to offer in terms of my perspective as a young graduate,” Bays said in a release from the district. “In addition, I’m a very strong community guy, and I feel that people need to give back and be a part of their community to make it a better place.”
At the meeting, Bays also said most of his fellow board members back then were skeptical of such a young board appointee, but Don Stuart, president of the board at the time, acted as his mentor. Stuart was present at the Nov. 23 meeting.
Bays was honored at the meeting along with fellow outgoing board members Tina Cayton and Jeremy Stuart, who served eight and four years on the board, respectively.
