Waibel, Fairgrieve join incumbents on St. Charles school board
On the seven-member St. Charles school board, it only takes four votes to make a lasting impression on local education. Voters elected two new members to the board while returning two veteran faces Tuesday night.
Unofficial results with all 47 precincts reporting saw incumbents Ed McNally, with 3,556 votes, and Jim Gaffney, with 3,002 votes, returning to the board. Joining them will be newcomers Carolyn Waibel and Heidi Fairgrieve.
Waibel received 3,080 votes. Fairgrieve received 2,555 votes to fend off Lara Kristofer, who received 2,361 votes. Denton Morris followed with 2,238 votes. Eric Missil received 1,708 votes. The top four vote-getters won seats on the board.
The election comes at a time of major transitions for St. Charles schools, but many of the biggest issues in the recent history of the district were decided by the existing board within the last year.
Haines Middle School will close and make way for expanded and upgraded Thompson and Wredling middle schools. St. Charles North will get a new, artificial turf athletic field this summer. The Norris Recreation Center will get a facelift. Jason Pearson will replace retiring Superintendent Don Schlomann to begin the 2017-18 school year.