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Blake Petersen elected board chair; Holly Riegelmann chosen as vice-chair
Summary
At its July 2 meeting the Gresham-Barlow School District board elected Blake Petersen as board chair for 2025–26 and Holly Riegelmann as vice-chair after separate votes. The board approved both elections in voice votes with one recorded abstention on the vice-chair motion.
Blake Petersen was elected board chair for the 2025–26 year after nomination and a board vote at the July 2 meeting of the Gresham-Barlow School District Board of Directors. The motion to elect Petersen was moved by Shawn Farrens and seconded by Heather Coleman-Cox; the motion carried unanimously.
Holly Riegelmann was elected vice-chair after nominations; Kris Howatt moved the vice-chair motion and Shawn Farrens seconded. The vice-chair vote passed with six ayes and one abstention from Kris Howatt. After the vote, Chair Petersen thanked the board and said he “can't wait to serve beside her,” signaling an early collaborative tone for the new leadership year. The board also recognized newly elected members and presented Certificates of Election during the meeting.
Why it matters: Board leadership determines meeting coordination and agenda flow for the coming year, including schedule and assignments to committees. The board will now operate under the newly elected chair and vice-chair heading into the 2025–26 work plan.
