WESTMINSTER : Three School Board Victors Form Majority

In last week’s election, voters turned over control of the Westminster School District Board of Trustees to newcomers who have said they plan to improve the district’s language program for limited-English students and spur parents to greater involvement in district policy-making.

They were elected to fill the seats vacated by trustees Margie Rice and Ron Morgan, who did not seek reelection, while incumbent Sheryl Neugebauer lost in her bid to remain on the board.

Lynn Covey, Sondra Rinker and Michael L. Verrengia captured the most votes in the field of nine and they are a majority on the five-member board.

Rinker, Verrengia and Covey said in interviews this week that they planned to enhance the district’s English immersion program.

Verrengia, 44, said he sees no immediate need to alter other programs or to “cut any programs whatsoever. Everything has pretty much been pared down to the bone.”

Rinker, 30, said she would investigate whether future budget cuts could come from administrative positions, instead of positions that directly affect the classroom, adding that “we need to see where the money is being spent.”

Calling for greater parental involvement in district decisions, Covey, 44, said she wants “parents to be more informed and feel that they can come to me and talk to me. That’s the most important thing.”

Trustee Kathy Stirling Iverson said she believes the new and current board members will be able to cooperate.

“My job is to work with them and I don’t think it’s going to be a problem,” she said.