Vrentas, Hanson, Clarke elected to school board, levy passes

Two incumbents have retained their seats and one newcomer has been elected to the Whitefish School Board.

Incumbents Heather Vrentas and Shannon Hanson won re-election and Katie Clarke earned a seat on the board in Tuesday’s election. Cate Catina had also been seeking a spot on the board.

Clarke earned 1,284 votes, Vrentas earned 1,216 and Hanson got 1,092, while Catina tallied 907 votes, according to the district.

Voters also approved an operations levy for the elementary district with 1,167 votes in favor and 825 against.

The $230,000 mill levy is intended to make up for budgetary shortfalls in the district. Without the levy, the elementary district faced a $67,000 shortfall and the school district as a whole is expected to have a shortfall of $160,000.

The levy will increase annual taxes on a home with a value of $200,000 by about $12.18 per year.

Voter turnout in the election was 17.9 percent with 2,006 ballots cast.