Charette

CANYON CITY — The Grant School Board is set for massive change following the Tuesday, May 16, special election.

Based on unofficial results, Jake Taylor was the only current school board member to retain his seat in the balloting. All other sitting board members are set to be replaced by fresh faces.

Receiving the highest percentage of the vote among the six candidates for three at-large seats on the board was Zac Bailey, who got 643 votes, good enough for 22.33% of the at-large vote. Taylor received 504 votes, or 17.51% of the vote.

Will Blood was the final winner of the at-large candidates. Blood received 477 votes, which wound up being 16.57% of the ballots cast.

Another challenger, Mitch Wilson, finished just out of the running in the six-way contest for three at-large seats with 446 votes, or 15.49%. He was followed by incumbents Colleen Robertson (who dropped out of the race after the ballots were printed) with 420 votes, or 14.59%, and Alicia Griffin with 329 votes, or 11.43%.

Two zoned seats on the board also were up for election, and both went to challengers.

M.T. Anderson defeated incumbent Jessi Brunson in the Zone 2 race 501-430, while Amy Charette defeated incumbent Brandon Culley 474-436 in Zone 3.

Taylor, Bailey, Blood, Anderson and Charette will join current board members Chris Labhart and Kelly Stokes on the seven-member body.

The Grant School District has seen more than its fair share of struggles over the past year. A sexually suggestive classroom assignment by a former junior high English teacher in mid-January led to swift backlash from the community and ultimately resulted in the teacher’s departure from the district.

Next, Superintendent Louis Dix announced at the Jan. 18 school board meeting that he planned to retire at the end of this school year — even though he was only six months into a three-year contract at the time. Two school board members resigned the following day.

Then, following an interview with the Myrtle Point School District for their open superintendent position, Dix agreed to be the interim superintendent of the Grant School District for the 2023-24 school year. The Grant School Board voted to hire Dix for the interim post during their March 15 meeting.

Grant Union Jr./Sr. High School Principal Karen Shelton resigned the following day. Finally, the district parted ways with longtime agriculture teacher Wayne Suchorski during the Wednesday, April 19, school board meeting following an executive session.

Suchorski was terminated for insubordination by a 4-3 board vote.

The new board members officially take office on Saturday, July 1.

Results will be certified by Grant County Clerk Brenda Percy on Wednesday, June 7.