It appears Ignacio School District 11-JT Board of education may see some familiar faces for another term.
Three spots were up for election during this cycle.
Board members Jay Dee Brunson and Allen McCaw were among the top three as of 10 p.m. Tuesday, while Ross Melton brought in the highest percentage of the votes with about 26% in Archuleta County and 25% in La Plata County.
Brunson held 20.3% of the votes in La Plata County and 14.8% in Archuleta County. McCaw held about 22.7% of the votes in La Plata County and 21.71% in Archuleta County.
Ignacio School District 11-JT spans across the two counties and the race had not been called as 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Brunson ran on the promise that if budget cuts were needed, he would not cut funding staff salaries, saying the district is struggling with a teacher shortage.
McCaw said division is one of the most pressing issues facing the district, lamenting that education is the solution to intolerance.
Brunson and McCaw ruled to deny Ascent Classical Academy’s charter school application in November.
Melton said he plans to work with the district’s staff and fellow board members to do what is best for the students.
“I'm just going to start off trying to figure out the ins and outs of it,” he said. “But then just try to work to make the best judgment for students of Ignacio as I can over time.”
Founder of GLS consulting Gina Schulz and former table games manager for the Sky Ute Casino Sheryle Hunter are short of the third spot on the board. Schulz received just above 15% of La Plata County votes while Hunter had 17.1% of the votes in La Plata County.
Both Schulz and Hunter fared slightly better in Archuleta County which holds a much smaller portion of the district.
“Win or lose, anyone who throws their hat into a school board race is doing it because they want to serve the students and families in the district and deserve our thanks,” Schulz said before the election had been called Tuesday night. “There's a lot of work ahead and I wish everyone the best.”
tbrown@durangoherald.com
