Three newcomers and a lone incumbent were elected to the school board Tuesday to help sort through the wreckage of the district’s failed $59 million school bond.

Voters sent a clear message that they couldn’t support the current school board’s vision of the future. More than 54 percent opposed the bond, and two incumbents were sent packing.

Political novices Leonard Ortiz, Rich Minder and Cindy Yulich won seats on the board. They’ll be joined by incumbent Sue Morgan, who earned a second term.

Ortiz said he was able to finish first because he generated support from precincts throughout the city.

“One of our successes was to bridge out,” he said.

Minder and Ortiz campaigned against a bond package that would have financed construction and renovation at 15 schools. Yulich and Sue Morgan endorsed the plan.

Turned out were Mary Loveland, who has been on the school board for 16 years, and Scott Morgan, the board’s president. Other candidates out of the running were Michael Pomes and Cille King.

“That’s how the system works,” said Scott Morgan, puzzled by the bond’s failure and the election of two bond supporters. “What kind of message that sends? I’m not sure.”

The election postmortem will include examination of whether the board miscalculated the public’s willingness to pass a property tax increase at a time when the economy was weak and the nation was at war. Questions will be raised about the decision to mix a bond vote and school board election. Including closure of East Heights and Centennial elementary schools in the bond package also will be assessed.

“We’re going to have to go back with the new board constituency and look at it,” Sue Morgan said.

The new board will have a 5-2 majority that favored this $59 million bond, which is the biggest to be offered voters in the Lawrence district.

“Come July 1, there will be three new members of the board,” Supt. Randy Weseman said. “If they want to redirect the course of the district, they can do that.”

Ortiz said the school board would be wise to table discussion of shutting down East Heights and Centennial, at least until the newly elected board members take office in July.

However, the current board has indicated a willingness to consider closing both schools at the end of this academic year to balance the 2003-2004 budget.

Debate about the budget will be watched closely by the same Lawrence residents who expressed their opinions at the ballot box.

Bob Blank, a vocal opponent of the bond and all school board candidates who backed the plan, said election of Minder and Ortiz should shake up the district.

¢ See the election results¢ School board precinct-by-precinct vote (interactive map)¢ 6News video: Sue Morgan expresses hope for bond¢ 6News video: Ortiz happy with campaign¢ 6News video: Minder wants new bond issue for Lawrence¢ Photos from the courthouse¢ Voters turn out in record numbers¢ 6News video: Polls see high number of voters

“My view is the administration is the tail that is wagging the dog. They’ve got the school board so propagandized they don’t know what they’re doing,” Blank said.

Jo Ann Kappelman, a retiree voting at Southside Church of Christ, said she voted against the bond because $59 million was just too much money to spend on school facilities right now.

“I voted for people in favor of another bond that is smaller,” she said. “It’s trying to do too much at once.”

The election was a huge disappointment for Kristi Lewis, who voted for the bond and all four candidates in favor of the plan.

“A vote for education is a wise investment in the future,” she said. “We definitely need it.”