Incumbent Dean McAllister was glad the election was over Wednesday morning after taking 71.9 percent of the vote in the North Wasco County School District 21 Zone 2 race.
McAllister received 284 votes to John Fredrick’s 108.
“I was confident but you never really know,” McAllister said. “It validates that people realize the school board is doing quite a bit.”
McAllister highlighted the Juntos program, which helps Latino students, professional leadership teams, Light House meetings and the facilities and building team as things keeping the school board busy.
McAllister is concerned about the school’s graduation rate but believes the Reading Wonders program implemented in all of the elementary schools is the first step in the right direction.
“Everybody is concerned about our graduation rates and we want to do whatever we can to improve that,” McAllister said. “We have to address it at the root and reading is one of the most important skills.”
McAllister also asked for the community’s help and said Gateway Presbyterian Church, which has adopted Chenowith Elementary as its school and First United Methodist Church, which has volunteered to paint at The Dalles High School, are good examples.
“We want to work with the community,” McAllister said. “The school can’t do it alone. We need volunteers. I love this community. We have a lot to offer in The Dalles.”
While the school board post was the only contested race Tuesday, Dufur Recreation District voters chose to continue to impose $45,000 each year for three years for operating purposes. The measure, which passed 185-29, will not raise taxes and renews current local option taxes. The tax revenue will continue to operate the district at its present level of service.
Voter turnout for the election was 22.56 percent, compared to 29 percent in 2013, as 2,906 of 12,880 eligible voters returned their ballots.
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