Tiffany Richardson.
Scott Walter.
Incumbent Scott Walter and new trustee Tiffany Richardson have won three-year terms on the East Helena school board, according to election results released Wednesday morning.
This outcome signals a shift for the five-member board, as newcomer Richardson replaces Marcia Ellermeyer, who has been an East Helena trustee for more than two decades. In the final count, Walter led with 1,133 ballots, followed by Richardson with 985, and Ellermeyer with 857.
“The hard part has just begun,” Richardson said of the learning curve of serving on the school board. She said her initial agenda was to listen, learn and begin to find her niche.
Richardson said she was most excited to see what the recently-passed STARS act means for the district’s budget. Also known as House Bill 252, the STARS act directs $100 million towards raising teacher pay in K-12 Montana schools. Richardson expressed hope that STARS could also support para-professionals, who work with students one-on-one or in small groups.
Listening and representing the community is a key part of her role, Richardson said. She said she has to stay “true to herself,” as she believed that is what got her elected, but emphasized that her votes on the board will reflect the priorities of residents and educators, even if they differ from her personal views.
Walter, who has served on the board for 18 years, said he was excited for the new perspective Richardson will bring to the board, particularly with her training as a certified public accountant. He added that Richardson has been very involved with the school as a parent and has “good relationships” with teachers in the district.
Walter said he was disappointed to lose Ellermeyer, a “stalwart” trustee of the school board for at least 22 years. In an interview last week, Ellermeyer told The Monitor that she had enjoyed being a part of the board and serving the community.
When she first ran for school board trustee, she said the district was struggling and the school was having to lay off teachers due to budget constraints. She decided to run at the time as she thought it would be the best way to serve her community. Since then, the school district has seen sharp growth and has even become a selling point to families considering a move to East Helena.
Ellermeyer has been “a big part” of the board’s numerous successes, Walter said, including building the Prickly Pear Elementary School and East Helena High School, working on curriculum, and dealing with insurance issues. Walter called her early Wednesday morning, he said, to thank her for her service.
The next school board meeting, and the first-ever for Richardson, is May 19, when the new trustees will officially begin their three-year terms after the confirmation of election results, the swearing-in of trustees, and a vote on board chair and vice-chair positions.