Grand Forks school board elects Janelle Bakke president, Elise Dunnigan vice president

The Grand Forks Public School District board elected Janelle Bakke president and Dr. Elise Dunnigan vice president at its annual meeting Monday evening.

After the chair opened nominations, Jay Cleven was nominated first but failed to win the presidency on a roll-call vote (4 yes, 5 no). Board member Janelle Bakke was then nominated and received a majority on the second roll call; the chair declared Bakke elected and invited her to assume the president’s chair.

The board then nominated Amber Flynn and Dr. Elise Dunnigan for vice president. Following roll-call voting, Dr. Dunnigan received the majority needed and was declared vice president.

Both elections were conducted under procedures the chair read from North Dakota Century Code and board policy governing annual officer elections. The board also amended the evening’s agenda to pull consent items 4, 5 and 6 for separate discussion before approving the remainder of the consent agenda.

The changes set up additional review of pulled consent items and gave newly seated members an opportunity to receive administrative briefings. The board approved the amended agenda and the consent items that remained on the agenda by unanimous roll call.