The area’s three largest school districts had some leadership positions waiting to be filled when voters went to the polls recently.

BARK RIVER-HARRIS

In a race for two seats on the Bark River-Harris School District Board of Education held by Bill Schmitt and Melissa Pach Kemppainen but challenged by Jeanette Peltier, the incumbents won the people’s vote in both counties. municipalities by a narrow margin. Kemppainen obtained 873 votes (34.75%); Schmitt, 827 (32.93%); and Peltier, 812 (32.32%).

Bark River Township in Delta County and Harris Township in Menominee County are located within the district, and it was those residents who voted, but Bark River-Harris is often a school of choice for people who live outside the district boundaries.

ESCANABA

Dan Flynn, James Beauchamp and Jennifer (“JJ.”) Johnson-Reeves was elected to the Escanaba Area Public Schools Board of Education. The results counted for the four candidates were as follows: Flynn received 5,341 votes (29.22%), Beauchamp received 4,990 (27.30%), Johnson-Reeves received 3,914 (21.41%) and 3,837 (20.97% ) went to LeeAnne M. Oman. All those elected retained their seats.

Beauchamp was first elected to the board in 2018 and has served as its president.

Johnson-Reeves, secretary, joined the board in 2022.

Flynn, a trustee, was first elected in 2014.

The city of Escanaba and the townships of Cornell, Ford River and Wells are in the Escanaba Area Public Schools district.

GLADSTONE

The three positions that were available on the Gladstone Board of Education were retained by Steven J. Tackman, Philip J. DeMay and Jesse Seger. Those three, acting as president, trustee and trustee respectively, had run against three additional challengers.

Tackman obtained 2,612 votes (23.10%); December, 2,191 (19.38%); Seger, 1,652 (14.61%); John Malnar, 1,613 (14.27%); Steven Viau, 1,611 (14.25%); and Diane L. Godfrey, 1,524 (13.48%).

Within the Gladstone Area School District are the City of Gladstone, the Township of Escanaba, and the Township of Brampton.