Weiser school board will see turnover in new year

 If it’s meant to be, I would love to represent Zone 1 on the Weiser School Board!

 

Jodi Johnson - Zone 1

 I would like to introduce myself to you. I’m Jodi Johnson and I’m running for the school board in Zone 1. 

 I have been married to my husband, Aaron, for 22 years and we have two children, Luke (20) and Trinity (17). In 2012, we decided to send our kids to school in Weiser instead of Payette where we lived at the time. My son was transitioning to fourth grade and my daughter was going to enter first grade that year. 

 After much thought and consideration, we decided to open enroll our kids in the Weiser School District. That meant that I, the mom, would have to drive my kids to and from school every day. It was a sacrifice well worth making. Our kids flourished in Weiser, so we found 20 acres to buy and proceeded to make our own private Idaho. 

 In 2015, on a whim, I decided to take the substitute teacher class offered at the District Office. Little did I know that would lead to me substitute teaching for the next seven years. The “education” I received during those seven years has been invaluable. I have a deep appreciation not only for teachers but administrators and all those who work to educate our children. 

 I believe this experience gives me the skills to fairly and truthfully represent the patrons of Zone 1. 

 

Jon Lerew - Zone 4

 Hello, my name is Jon Lerew and I am running to retain my seat as board trustee of Zone 4 for the Weiser School District. 

 I have been married to my beautiful bride Karlee for 19 years, and we have four children, Kailee who is a junior at the high school, Landen who is an 8th grader at the middle school, and our two youngest, Levi and Janna.  

 I am a general contractor, and the middle school youth leader at Weiser Community Church. I enjoy sports, and have volunteered as a coach for basketball, soccer and track, as well as being a referee for basketball. 

 As a current school board trustee, I am aware of the current situations that the school district is facing, including building structures, staffing, curriculum, finances and the revision of policies. If you have concerns or comments about the school district, the board would love your input. Even if you can’t attend a board meeting, your emails and phone calls are welcomed! Please remember to vote in November.

 

Jon C. Walker - Zone 5

 I decided to run for the Weiser School board because it is the prime igniter for the future of our community. When you think of schools, you think of education, but it is so much more. 

 Schools have a hand in educating our young residents on how to be good citizens with good values. 

 You might ask what Jon C. Walker has to offer for a school board position and what are his qualifications? 

 I was raised in Weiser on my family’s ranch. After graduating, I went to TVCC, and then worked for Champion Homes until they promoted me to a supervisor position on one of their construction crews. Then, I became interested in appraising and became a county appraiser working in Washington, Boise, and Adams counties. 

 After returning home to Weiser, I was hired to drive bus for the school district and after a year was hired as the Pioneer School custodian. I have a great vested interest in the Weiser School District. Not only did I retire after 30 years of service at Pioneer, my mother had retired after 37 years as secretary at the high school, and my father and sister had several years in the District invested, as well. 

 Through my seasoned years with the district, I worked at Pioneer but also, during the summers, I worked maintaining the floors of all the school buildings and, after several years, I became the overseer of the floor maintenance crew that handled all the floors throughout the district, and that’s a lot of floors. 

 I am presently employed at the Weiser Nazarene Church part-time. I look forward to serving the community as a School Board member if the voters, so desire.

 

Most elected positions go unchallenged

 Even with 27 individuals throughout Washington County submitting their names for 21 different elected positions, it turns out only two contests will be decided in this November’s election, three seats on Weiser’s City Council, and the Weiser School Board race in Zone 1.

 According to election officials in the Washington County Clerk’s office, and after the Idaho Legislature passed a bill in 2020 adding cities to the list of entities that don’t have to hold elections for uncontested seats, 19 of the county’s races will not appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.

 In Cambridge, a four-year city council seat will be held by Delray Platt. Rob Vowell will be the director representing Zone 2 of the Cambridge Fire District; and Cambridge School Trustees for Zones 3 and 4 will be Timothy Ferguson and Christy Crocco, respectively.

 Midvale Mayor Brian Graham will hold the position for another four years; and three four-year city council seats will be held by Jeremy Kirk, Fred Bruce, and Charles Downey. Midvale’s Fire District’s Zones 1 and 2 will be represented by Roy C. Bruce and Harmon Horton, and the Midvale School Board seats in Zones 3 and 4 will be held by Steve Sutton and Jake Mikek.

 Taxing entities in the Weiser area that will declare elections include the Hillcrest Cemetery District, where Ron Bruce will retain his Zone 3 seat, along with the Weiser Area Rural Fire District’ Zones 2 and 3 representatives Dennis Cooper and Seth Matthews continuing in their positions on the board.