WHITING | Three incumbents appeared to keep their seats Tuesday on the Whiting School Board.
Anthony Borgo, Michael Toth and Shawn Turpin led in the race for the three at-large seats, outpacing three other candidates in the field.
Turpin, who had the highest number of votes as of press time, will serve a third term on the board and emphasized the success of the School City of Whiting's new open-enrollment policy and energy conservation measures.
"I'm dedicated to the school district and the city of Whiting," Turpin had told The Times. "I'm never afraid to do what's in the best interest of students, be it academics, athletics or extra-curricular activities."
Turpin said big challenges for the district include keeping up with new state mandates and merit-based pay for teachers.
Long-term board member Borgo said the open enrollment policy had contributed to growth in the district, which he contended has helped Whiting schools avoid a state-mandated consolidation with another district.
Along with the three incumbents, the field had featured a first-time candidate, Michelle Espinosa, and two repeat candidates — Nina Pierce and Bryan David Ciers. Pierce had wanted to enhance relationships with the local library and other community groups. Ciers wanted new ideas considered in the high school curriculum.
"I want to improve ISTEP scores," Espinosa had told The Times. "Our scores are pretty good overall, but I want (to) help the students who aren't scoring so well."
The terms of current School Board members Lindy Fisher and Kathy Murzyn will come up for election in 2014.
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