Incumbents Retain Seats On Springdale, Fayetteville School Boards

FAYETTEVILLE -- Incumbents won handily Tuesday in the two contested school board races in Washington County.

In the race for Zone 5 seat on the Fayetteville School Board, incumbent Tim Hudson handily won over challenger Tim Hollis, 144 (73 percent) to 53 (27 percent), to remain on the board for another five years. The vote represented 3 percent of the 6,287 registered voters in Zone 5.

Hudson is president of the board and served as chairman of a committee recommending renovating Fayetteville High School rather than build a new campus elsewhere.

"I am happy to have the opportunity to continue to serve the Fayetteville School District," Hudson said after the results were announced by the Washington County Election Commission.

Hollis is a former school teacher who is suing the School District over his termination. He focused his campaign on board actions by former Superintendent Vicki Thomas and the number of quality teachers retiring.

Kathy McFetridge easily won re-election to the Zone 3 seat on the Springdale School Board, defeating challenger Henry Hudson, 138 (80 percent) to 34 (20 percent). The vote represented 3 percent of the 4,994 registered voters in Zone 3.

McFetridge has been on the board 23 years and will return for another five-year term.

"I am so appreciative for another term," said McFetridge after the results were in.

Voters approved continuing the same millage rates in five school districts in Washington County. School districts didn't ask to raise or lower the rates. However, the millage was defeated in Farmington and West Fork and tied in Lincoln with two votes for and two against.

However, in those three districts the millage remains unchanged because a defeated millage reverts back to the previous year. Since those districts weren't requesting an increase, the rate stays the same.

Jeff Oxford in Farmington; Bryan Delozier in Elkins; Jerry Coyle and J.C. Dobbs in Prairie Grove; Kendra Moore in Lincoln; Patrick Anderson and Daniel Marzoni in Greenland; and Brad Hardin in West Fork, ran unopposed for their respective school boards and all were elected.