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And 1,420 voters put Whaley, Hetrick on Board of Education
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · September 14, 2017


Amanda Whaley and Greg Hetrick won two open seats on the West Branch Board of Education with nearly 45 percent of the eligible voters casting ballots.


Unofficial results from the Cedar County Auditor’s office show Whaley with 617 supporters — 43.5 percent of the vote — and Hetrick with 539 supporters — 38 percent.

Third- and fourth place finishes by Tim Moss and Brian Neuberger were separated by just two votes. Moss earned 509 supporters — 35.9 percent — and Neuberger won 507 supporters — 35.7 percent.

“I was surprised,” Whaley said of her win and top-vote-getter status. “There was a lot of chatter of Facebook, and I didn’t know ... I’m very thankful that people have such faith in me and believe I can do a good job.”

Hetrick said he is “excited to get the opportunity to help move the district forward.”

“I want to help make sure we do what is best for children,” he said.

Hetrick and Whaley will be sworn in at the 6 p.m. Sept. 18 school board meeting.

The two will replace Mike Colbert and Mike Owen on the board. Both incumbents chose not to run for re-election.

Whaley said she wants to learn why the $19.8 million bond referendum did not pass so the board can move forward and determine what to do next.

“I want to talk to those who voted ‘no,’ and see what improvements we need to make immediately.”

She remembers hearing at the Sept. 6 school forum that some school restrooms are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“That needs to be a priority,” Whaley said. “I’m surprised we don’t have that in all of our schools.”

Hetrick said he was “disappointed” the bond did not receive 60 percent support to pass.

“We need to look at the next steps,” he said. “Doing nothing is not an option.”

He said he thinks people agree the plan is good, but perhaps the cost is too much at once.

“I think the plan is right,” Hetrick said. “The obvious answer is the cost. That’s where we’ll look next.”

He said a question at the school forum suggested breaking the plan into two parts, and he said that is worth considering.

“It still did get a pretty good majority,” he said of the 52.3 percent support. “I think people overall think we’re going in the right direction. We’ll see if we can get constructive feedback and see what the concerns really were.”

Whaley said that while she was running for the board, people told her that they felt she would be open to listen.

“And they were excited I was running with my education experience in public schools,” the special educatiton consultant said. “They said they felt like I was a good match.”

Hetrick, the husband of Hoover Elementary second-grade teacher Sarah Hetrick, said voters wanted to see “that we treat teachers right,” like with collective bargaining.

“We need to keep the good ones around for the kids’ best education,” he said.

Whaley said she wants to learn more about school procedures from a board member’s perspective.

“I’ve seen it as a teacher and a parent, but not that side of the fence yet,” she said.

Recalling a question from the forum on whether she sees herself on the board more as a community representative or a school representative, Whaley sees herself as “both.”

She thanked residents for taking time to vote.

“It was exciting to see how many people came out,” she said.

Hetrick congratulated Whaley for her success and thanked Moss and Neuberger for also running.

“I’m looking forward to working with them,” he said.