Sandy Belkengren was elected to lead the Richfield School Board on Monday night as the board reorganized and welcomed two new members.

The meeting opened with the administration of the oath of office to returning board member Todd Nollenberger and newcomers John Ashmead and Deb Etienne. The three were the top vote getters out of 15 candidates in last fall's general election.

Belkengren replaces former Chair Peter Toensing, who came in fourth in November. The other officers elected Monday night by unanimous votes were:
- John Easterwood, who returns to his post as board vice chair for 2012,
- David Lamberger, who returns as board clerk, and
- Todd Nollenberg, who takes over for Belkengren as treasurer.

The members also approved their compensation for serving on the board at $500 a month for each member. Lamberger will get and additional honorarium of $300 a year for serving as clerk, and Belkengren an additional $600 a year for serving as chair.

The honoraria have been the same since 2006.

At right: John Ashmead and Deb Etienne take the oath of office at Monday night's school board meeting.