H.S. school levy passes, Plains fails

While many school board members ran unopposed in this month's school district elections, voters in Plains and Noxon chose school board members on Tuesday, and voters in Hot Springs and Plains made decisions on levies.

Hot Springs School District voters passed a levy increase of $183,000 for general operation and maintenance. The issue passed with 149 voting for it and 146 voting against.

Plains residents voted down an additional $100,000 levy for maintenance and operations, specifically for recruitment and retention of highly qualified staff and expansion of academic programs, as stated on the ballot. The levy failed with 713 votes against the measure and 402 for the levy.

In the Plains School District, Ellen Childress, Robert Cutlip and Monica Weedeman filed for the two open three-year terms, with Weedeman (791 votes) and Childress (692) winning the election. Cutlip received 296 votes.

Two three-year positions were sought by four candidates in the Noxon School District, with Arthur Potts and Annie Mnaning receiving the most votes. Potts was elected with 221 votes, Manning with 220. Other candidates were Kyra Bosker with 210 votes and Lars Swanson with 177. Cassandra Hill, Amber Miskowitz and James Byler were elected by acclamation to the Noxon board.

In Thompson Falls, Jeneese Baxter and Sandra Muster will serve another three-year term on the school board. The were the only candidates to file, as was Marian Stonehocker in Trout Creek, Mandie DePoe in Hot Springs and Faus Silvernale in Dixon, who also will be elected by acclamation. The elections are unofficial until the schools complete their respective canvasses.