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Changes coming to Eagle Point schools Election workers Griffin Ramsdell, left, and Bob Brazeau lend a helping hand to a motorist dropping off her ballot Tuesday afternoon at the Jackson County Elections Office. Wednesday May 16, 2007 at 12:30 AM After eight years on the Eagle Point School Board, retired welder Doug McKinley appeared late Tuesday to have lost his seat in Position 4. By Paris Achen After eight years on the Eagle Point School Board, retired welder Doug McKinley appeared late Tuesday to have lost his seat in Position 4. As of 11 p.m., retired schoolteacher MaryAnn Olsen was ahead with 1,600 votes, about 37.45 percent. Trailing her were cattle rancher Mark Bateman with 1,211 votes, or 28.35 percent; McKinley with 751 votes, or 17.58 percent; and retiree Bob Wille with 680 votes, or 15.92 percent. "I would be very excited to work with the school board and the new superintendent if I win," Olsen said late Tuesday. Corporate controller Spencer Davenport, the lone candidate for Position 1, was elected to replace board member Teresa Hulla, who withdrew early in the race. Each position has a four-year term. McKinley said he was baffled by the election results. "When I got on the board test scores were low, the district's finances were low, and there were all kinds of problems," McKinley said. "In the two terms I've served, test scores have (gone up), and Eagle Point's finances are probably better than any of the school districts in the area." Relatively new to Eagle Point, Olsen has no children in the school district and few ties to the community. Her opponents were all well-established members of the community. Her campaign focused on ushering students toward postsecondary education as early as the elementary level. "I think people were attracted to that, and the fact that I was an educator for 28 years," Olsen said. "I have no history here. I have no axes to grind. I think people appreciate that because they know I'm here to help kids." She said she also campaigned more than some of the other candidates, going door-to-door, attending business and community meetings and visiting school staff. Olsen and Davenport would represent just part of the new blood in the Eagle Point district leadership. The school board recently hired Cynda Rickert, school improvement coordinator at the Southern Oregon Education Service District, as the district's new superintendent. In the Ashland School Board race, Keith Massie, Jackson County geographic information systems manager, appeared on his way to victory over Ashland Co-op board president Erik Wallbank as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. In Prospect, incumbent Walter Sam Mahoney, cosmetologist, looked likely to retain his seat in Position 1 against Michele McIntyre, assistant manager at Union Creek Resort. On the Rogue River School Board, incumbent Trayce Geddes also appeared to have maintained her seat in Position 3 despite a challenge by Harry "Dave" Davis. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 541-776-4459 or [email protected].