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Election 2007: Time for change

Read all stories related to Election Day results

2007 Election, How Routt County voted

Precinct by precinct breakdown of how Routt County voted

Hayden — District D incumbent Troy Wertenberger lost his seat on the Hayden School Board to challenger Sharon Nereson in Tuesday's election.

Nereson, a Hayden School District paraprofessional and classroom volunteer, has worked with the district for the past eight years and cited her interest in her sixth-grade daughter's education as the primary reason for her candidacy.

Results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday showed Nereson with 239 votes to Wertenberger's 140, a lead of nearly 30 percent.

Wertenberger, an employee of the Routt County Road and Bridge Department, was first elected to the Hayden School Board in 1999. He has two children who attend Hayden High School.

Nereson will serve a four-year term in her seat on the Hayden School Board. She will take office at the board's next meeting, Nov. 14.

Upcoming responsibilities for the School Board include hiring a replacement for Superintendent Mike Luppes, who plans to retire at the end of the school year, and assessing whether the district's four-day school week has benefited teachers and students.

"Right now what's real important is finding a good superintendent," Wertenberger said.

The School Board is currently weighing its options for how to best carry out that process and is leaning toward handling the search in-house rather than hire an outside search firm, Wertenberger said.

Despite losing his seat on the School Board, Wertenberger said he still plans to be involved with Hayden schools. He said there are plenty of other ways to serve and other district committees of which he can be a part.

He also thanked all the businesses that have supported Hayden schools and their athletic teams during his tenure on the School Board.