The Fayette Board of Education welcomed two new members and bid farewell to members Matt Hudson and John Stroupe during its annual reorganization meeting Monday evening. Sworn in are newcomers Lisa Shrum and Wes Friebe, who won a three-way race for two seats.

Neither Hudson nor Stroupe sought third terms.

The board also re-elected board president Skip Vandelicht for a fifth term. Aaron Bentley was elected vice president. 

Board member Kristen Gibbs was absent from Monday’s meeting.

The new board faced a reasonably light agenda for Monday’s meeting. Once reorganized, members chose various committees upon which to serve. Outgoing district treasurer Jackie Besgrove and incoming treasurer Lisa Gebhardt were approved unanimously. Gebhardt will take over for Besgrove, who will retire at the end of the academic year. Jessica Dodson also received unanimous approval to continue as board secretary.

In new business, board members amended the schedule for the annual board awards, which honors students and teachers and bestows its annual Citizen of the Year award. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, in the high school gym. The board will recognize teachers and present the citizen award at 6 p.m., followed by the middle school student awards. The high school student awards will begin at 7 p.m.

After a few minutes of discussion, the board gave unanimous approval to accept a lone bid of $1,380 for the surplused 2007 Thomas school bus. The old 66-passenger bus was replaced in March with a new 77-passenger 2025 Blue Bird Vision diesel bus.

Superintendent Brent Doolin said he had hoped to trade the old bus in for an estimated $2,100, but the new bus was delivered without warning. Bill Verner was the only bidder.

The school board meets on the third Wednesday of every month except for July and holds a day meeting in January. April’s meeting, however, had to be moved to comply with a state rule requiring school boards to meet within 14 days of the most recent election, which this year was on April 2. Board meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library. Meetings are open, agendas are published in advance, and the public is invited.