Four candidates are running to fill two non-partisan spots on the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland school board – one two-year term representing Oldham-Ramona and one single-year term representing Rutland. It comes as the district faced several shakeups in the past year.

A vote was held in December for a special school board election that decided the future of the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland School District. Just four votes divided those for reorganization, which would have dissolved the school district and allocated students to surrounding districts, and those against.

Oldham-Ramona-Rutland’s tumultuous several months also included the appointment of a new superintendent after former superintendent Dawn Hoeke resigned in February.

Hoeke said in the school board meeting where she resigned that “Over the past two years, I have witnessed and been the target of hatred, control and entitlement that contradict the principles of faith and decency I hold dear. My heart aches for the division and harm caused by those who seek to dismantle this district, regardless of the impact on students and staff.”

Candidates Jennifer Lebahn and Ashlee Roling, who are running for the Oldham-Ramona seat, and Mitchell Maher, who is running for the Rutland seat, have not previously served on the school board. Amber Malisch is currently serving a one-year term on the board representing the Rutland community and is running for re-election.  That election will be held on June 2nd as part of the primary election.