Ceres Unified School District swore in newly elected trustees Eric Ingwerson, Faye Lane and Jim Kinard Thursday night at its Lawrence Street headquarters. They received congratulatory handshakes and hugs following the two-hour meeting.
Ingwerson was appointed in May to fill the unexpired term of Ben Harden, who resigned in March because of health reasons. Eric, former mayor of Ceres and current real estate agent for PMZ Real Estate, safely held onto his seat by amassing 1,449 votes during the Nov. 6 election.
"I'd like to thank all the people that supported me," Ingwerson said. "It's great to get another opportunity to serve our community."
Kinard and Lane managed to unseat incumbents Diane Sol and Yvette Nunes.
Lane, a retired Ceres school secretary, collected 1,739 votes.
"It's just a privilege to be able to serve Ceres Unified," she said.
Kinard, a retired teacher, amassed 1,735 votes.
"I'm really excited about the next four years," he said. "To be part of these kids' futures is a fantastic feeling."
Sol lost her bid for re-election with 1,221 votes. Nunes, also a Westport area farmer, amassed 1,080 votes.
The new board, which consists of Ingwerson, Lane, Kinard, Betty Davis, Bill Berryhill, Mike Welsh and Teresa Guerrero, attended the California School Boards Association Annual Education Conference, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, at the San Diego Convention Center.
"It was a positive experience," Welsh said.
Added Kinard: "We all seem to respect each other and get along."
Welsh, who just completed his term as president and will continue to serve as a trustee, administered the oath of office following a moment of silence for Rob Phipps. Elected to another term as a member of the Ceres City Council last month, the 44-year-old died of an apparent heart attack on Dec. 2.
"Everybody liked him," Welsh said. "He was a good guy. He was all about Ceres. It was never about him. We're going to miss him."
Davis will serve as board president for the coming year. The vote was unanimous (7-0).
In other district news, the Ceres School Board approved an attendance boundary change that will result in a more even distribution of students with a 6-1 vote. Lane abstained.
The change, effective July 1, will affect a portion of the secondary students in the La Rosa Elementary School attendance boundary. Currently, La Rosa students go on to attend Blaker-Kinser Junior High School and Central Valley High School. Due to the size inequities between projected enrollment numbers at Blaker-Kinser/Central Valley and Mae Hensley Junior High School/Ceres High School, staff recommended that a portion of the La Rosa attendance boundary be shifted into the Mae Hensley/Ceres High attendance zone. The shift will affect students living north of Whitmore Avenue and west of Faith Home. It will be made for incoming seventh and ninth graders. Next year's eighth, 10th, 11th and 12th graders will continue to receive transportation to Blaker-Kinser and Central Valley if warranted. Students will also be permitted to make the switch to the new school immediately.
Ceres Unified teachers Robin Williams (Ceres High) and Candy Chamberlain (Central Valley) were recognized during the commendation portion of the meeting. They were recently nominated for California League of High Schools Region 6 Educator of the Year.
Ingwerson was appointed in May to fill the unexpired term of Ben Harden, who resigned in March because of health reasons. Eric, former mayor of Ceres and current real estate agent for PMZ Real Estate, safely held onto his seat by amassing 1,449 votes during the Nov. 6 election.
"I'd like to thank all the people that supported me," Ingwerson said. "It's great to get another opportunity to serve our community."
Kinard and Lane managed to unseat incumbents Diane Sol and Yvette Nunes.
Lane, a retired Ceres school secretary, collected 1,739 votes.
"It's just a privilege to be able to serve Ceres Unified," she said.
Kinard, a retired teacher, amassed 1,735 votes.
"I'm really excited about the next four years," he said. "To be part of these kids' futures is a fantastic feeling."
Sol lost her bid for re-election with 1,221 votes. Nunes, also a Westport area farmer, amassed 1,080 votes.
The new board, which consists of Ingwerson, Lane, Kinard, Betty Davis, Bill Berryhill, Mike Welsh and Teresa Guerrero, attended the California School Boards Association Annual Education Conference, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, at the San Diego Convention Center.
"It was a positive experience," Welsh said.
Added Kinard: "We all seem to respect each other and get along."
Welsh, who just completed his term as president and will continue to serve as a trustee, administered the oath of office following a moment of silence for Rob Phipps. Elected to another term as a member of the Ceres City Council last month, the 44-year-old died of an apparent heart attack on Dec. 2.
"Everybody liked him," Welsh said. "He was a good guy. He was all about Ceres. It was never about him. We're going to miss him."
Davis will serve as board president for the coming year. The vote was unanimous (7-0).
In other district news, the Ceres School Board approved an attendance boundary change that will result in a more even distribution of students with a 6-1 vote. Lane abstained.
The change, effective July 1, will affect a portion of the secondary students in the La Rosa Elementary School attendance boundary. Currently, La Rosa students go on to attend Blaker-Kinser Junior High School and Central Valley High School. Due to the size inequities between projected enrollment numbers at Blaker-Kinser/Central Valley and Mae Hensley Junior High School/Ceres High School, staff recommended that a portion of the La Rosa attendance boundary be shifted into the Mae Hensley/Ceres High attendance zone. The shift will affect students living north of Whitmore Avenue and west of Faith Home. It will be made for incoming seventh and ninth graders. Next year's eighth, 10th, 11th and 12th graders will continue to receive transportation to Blaker-Kinser and Central Valley if warranted. Students will also be permitted to make the switch to the new school immediately.
Ceres Unified teachers Robin Williams (Ceres High) and Candy Chamberlain (Central Valley) were recognized during the commendation portion of the meeting. They were recently nominated for California League of High Schools Region 6 Educator of the Year.
