Tom Stewart has lived in the Columbia School District for 38 years with his wife Lori. All three of his children are alumni of Columbia Elementary School. He is a recent retiree from Hetch Hetchy Water & Power as a power generation technician. He is very blessed to be able to serve on the CUSD Board of Trustees.
About
Columbia Union School District has a five (5) member Board of Trustees. Board members are elected by the voters residing within school district boundaries. Each board member serves a four (4) year term of office. The President and Clerk of the Board are elected by board members for a one (1) year term which runs January through December of the calendar year.
The Superintendent is employed by the Board of Trustees for a specified contract period. They are responsible for executing the policies established by the Board and effectively directing the overall operation of the school district. The Superintendent and their staff develop all plans, programs, and policies for board consideration and action.
Board of Trustees
Tom Stewart
Jamie Serrano
Jamie Serrano is a dedicated and experienced professional with over 17 years of combined experience in healthcare and school counseling. With a strong background in both fields, Jamie brings a unique perspective and a wealth of knowledge to her role as a Columbia school board member.
With a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young people, Jamie transitioned into the field of education and is currently work on her Master's degree in School Counseling. She has since dedicated her career to supporting students in their academic, personal, and social/emotional development.
Outside of her professional commitments, Jamie enjoys spending time with their family, engaging in outdoor activities, and practicing gratitude. As a 2nd generation alumni of Columbia Elementary School, Jamie’s heart will always be with the 49ers and this amazing school.
Cody Opie
Cody Opie is a proud father of three children, all of whom have attended Columbia—just as he did. He owns and operates his family’s automotive repair shop, a trusted local business that has served the community since 1950. Cody has a strong passion for the outdoors, sports, and spending quality time teaching and learning alongside his kids. As a member of the school board, he’s honored to give back to the school system that helped shape him. Cody is committed to supporting all students and staff, believing that education and structure are essential to success for everyone.
Eric Segerstrom
Erik is a graduate of Columbia Elementary and a lifelong resident of Tuolumne County. With family roots in the area spanning six generations, he has a deep passion for his community and values being involved in the school he once attended. Erik prioritizes building strong relationships with parents and staff to help foster a connected, supportive school environment. As a board member, he is committed to expanding educational and extracurricular opportunities for Columbia students. In his free time, Erik enjoys spending time outdoors with his family.
Dr. Jeff Wittman
Board Goals
The Board of Trustees adopted goals for themselves at the regularly scheduled board meeting in February 2024. Theirs goals are as follows:
The board will adopt an evaluation tool for the superintendent, establish a process, and evaluate the superintendent.
The board will adopt and support the district’s multi-year strategic plan designed to move the district forward in being a model example of how to best serve its stakeholders. As such, the board will provide feedback to its progress and help prioritize the district’s needs to provide direction to the superintendent as everyone continues to advance.
The board will similarly adopt and support the district’s new Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).
The board will report to stakeholders at least once a year about the goals for and vision of the district and the progress that has been made on the strategic plan and the LCAP.
The board will review all of its current policies to ensure that they are up to date and reflect best practice to facilitate positive and efficient learning and operations systems.
The board will adopt a memorandum about expectations and processes tied to board members’ rules of conduct and decorum, the board’s own vision for the district that emulates the belief that “Then And Now, Excellence Begins Here,” and a process to review and set goals.