Sangamon Sun

The Springfield board of education swore in two new members at a recent board meeting. 

During the May 1 Springfield school board meeting, the board recognized and upheld the results of the spring election. The results of the election had Anthony Mares from Subdistrict 1, Buffy Lael-Wolf from Subdistrict 5, and Erica Austin from Subdistrict 6 all being reelected to their seats without any opposition running against them. Michael Miller from Subdistrict 2 defeated a challenger for another term, and Sarah Blissett was also reelected for another term to represent Subdistrict 3.

According to The State Journal-Register, the newcomers elected to the board are Ken Gilmore in Subdistrict 4 and Debi Iams taking Subdistrict 7 after incumbent Bill Ringer decided he would not be running for reelection. 

Iams had previously ran for school board in 1977 when there was an open seat and no active candidates running. When she announced her plans back then, she lost to the then incumbent, but she finally has a seat more than four decades later. 

“I appreciate all the help and support that I've gotten over the last several years from you on your administration staff. Bittersweet tonight, I’m going to miss it,” departing member Ringer said at the meeting. “It's been pretty exciting. It's very fulfilling and challenging.”

After Gilmore and Iams took their oath of office and were able to join the school board behind the dais, the board chose to elect Micah Miller as their board president for the term, following up with Erica Austin as vice president and Julie Hammers as board secretary. Several board members had their families in attendance to celebrate their election or reelection, and their new positions on the board.

“I do just want to take a second and say thank you to those who voted yes for me for president,” Miller said at the meeting.