County school boards change with 2024 election

Nov. 5—School board candidates Diana Sayre (Alexandria), Greg Granger (Frankton-Lapel), Joshua Brashear (Frankton-Lapel), Ana Blake (South Madison) and Richard Evans (South Madison) each won their respective races.

Sayre won against Barrett Key, a former Alexandria teacher and longtime local coach. Her priorities include keeping the public informed about policies and expenses and helping to implement programs to ensure students' success.

She feels she has reached both of these goals during her first term and said she's "honored" to continue that work in a second term.

Granger, who was elected to the Frankton-Lapel school board, did not respond to requests for comment. However, he previously noted his experience as school educator and administrator, which he believed gave him an advantage.

Brashear, another victor for Frankton-Lapel, could not be reached for comment, but he previously noted that he wanted to make the corporation better for his son, who is 4 years old.

It was a close race for Ana Blake, who unseated incumbent Angie Brown by just over 300 votes in a South Madison race.

Blake's phone was buzzing with congratulatory messages from well wishers.

"I'm very excited; it's very exciting," she said.

Blake said she hopes to make some positive changes in the district, which include increasing teacher pay and retention.

Academic improvement was a top priority for Melissa Krieg, a District 1 candidate for the South Madison Community Schools Corp. board, who lost by less than 700 votes to Richard "Buck" Evans.

Evans said he was proud that he and his opponent, whom he has known since she was a child, ran clean campaigns.

He thanked South Madison voters for putting their faith in him for another term.