Russell Hatch and Dan Ruby lead in initial vote tally Tuesday evening

By Holly Dillemuth, Ashland.news  

Ashland voters appear to have chosen two new school board members — Dan Ruby and Russell Hatch — as results continue to be tallied on Tuesday after initial counts of ballots submitted early were released.

Unofficial results as of 10:45 p.m. reported that 56 percent of voters (3,309) opted for Ruby, who vied for position No. 2 against Russell Phillips, a position currently held by Sabrina Prud’homme. Phillips had 2,647 votes, or 44 percent.

As of 10:45 p.m., 4,148, or 70 percent ,of voters cast their ballots for Russell Hatch, who ran for position No. 5 against Toria Clason, who took in 1,777 votes or 30 percent of votes cast. That position is currently held by Victor Chang. 

Neither Chang nor Prud’homme sought re-election.

Ruby serves as senior director of strategic partnership at Rogue Community Health and has a background in STEM education and community outreach at ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum and University of Nevada. He has two teenagers attending Ashland schools, as previously reported by Ashland.news.

Ruby spoke to Ashland.news on Tuesday evening, just after the unofficial results were released.

“That’s exciting — I’m totally ready to serve,” Ruby said. “I’m looking forward to working with all of the board. 

“My special focus is in career technical education (CTE) and Talented And Gifted … and I know I have unique financial capabilities that I’m happy to bring to the board. But mostly, the work is as a team, and I think it’s a good team.”

Ruby said he ran for the school board position because Ashland schools are one of the reasons he came to the area.

“They are one of the things that makes this area valuable and we are at a turning point,” he said. “We are transformed by wildfires and by changes with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and our schools are one of our high points and need to remain one of our high points. As a community member, it’s important to me that they’re as good as possible.”

As a parent of children in Ashland schools, he said he wants the schools in Ashland to be as good as possible.

“I see room for growth,” Ruby said, “and also places of strength and then, as a career educator, I have a professional interest in making sure that we’re doing it as well as possible and being forward thinking on our approaches.”

Hatch serves as a coach at and owner of Ashland Hero Academy, a martial arts school, and also offers self-defense instruction at Ashland Middle School, as previously reported by Ashland.news. He has three children in the school district and has been a school volunteer and PTA member.

Hatch spoke with Ashland.news following the release of unofficial results at 8 p.m.

He noted he was “hopeful” about the race but wasn’t certain of the outcome ahead of time. Hatch expressed a desire to get started in addressing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth.

“The campaign was interesting but now I’d like to actually tackle some of the issues that   I see in our schools and do what I can to help,” Hatch said. “We’re deep in recovery from the COVID years.” 

Hatch acknowledged the “necessary” pause in in-person learning had a really hard effect on kids.

“They’re behind on their reading, they’re behind on math — multiple grades behind,” Hatch said. “And our teachers have already done a lot to help close that gap but they need a lot more support, both the students and the teachers, to be able to continue that work over the next year and hopefully make sure that all of our kids are having a chance to thrive.”

Hatch said at all grade levels, he sees a mental health crisis among kids, noting a suicide that occurred among the Ashland High School student body last year. 

“There’s a lot of kids who are suffering and making sure that we’re doing what we can to provide resources to our students … so that they can get the help and support that they need,” Hatch said.

Hatch noted that the school board’s budget is currently “stretched,” and the district is spending more than the ideal ratio for staffing.

“The ideal would be 80% and right now we’re around 85(%),” he said. “But the understanding among the school board and district is we’re going to maintain that even though it pinches us elsewhere to be able to provide this extra support.

“So making sure that we do that and we hold to that promise for … really as long as it takes to get our students healthy again.”

Hatch said he wants to be active not only in school board meetings but in meeting with local organizations in the community who can potentially work alongside the district to help improve services to students.

For up-to-date results, check the Jackson County Elections website. 

Questions, comments, story tips? Reach Ashland.news reporter at hollyd@ashland.news.

This article mentions suicide. Individuals in crisis or looking to help someone else who is can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.

11:25 p.m. update Tuesday, May 16: Updated to include 10:45 p.m. vote release tallies.