With all precincts accounted for, the outcome of the Ripon Area School District Board of Education election has been finalized, confirms School Board Secretary Jolene Meyer.
The election saw five contenders vying for four vacant seats on the School Board. Incumbents included Lori Machmueller and Denise Martinez, while newcomers consisted of Katie Grady, Shannon Lampe, and Kelly Nielsen. Notably, incumbents Andy Lyke and Nicole Dash opted not to pursue reelection this cycle.
Martinez emerged as the frontrunner with 947 votes, followed closely by Machmueller with 929 votes. Grady secured the third position with 903 votes, trailed by Nielsen with 885 votes and Lampe with 472 votes.
While the official results await confirmation during the vote canvass on Thursday, April 4, it appears that the winners have been decided.
The top three vote recipients—Martinez, Machmueller, and Grady—will each serve three-year terms, while Nielsen, securing the fourth spot, will assume a one-year term.
The newly elected board members are slated to be sworn in during a special School Board session on Monday, April 22.
