District 150 School Board incumbent Laura Petelle was unseated in yesterday’s election. 69-percent of voters voted for Sue Wolstenholm, who was backed by the grassroots ‘Change 150’ group. The organization aims to change the culture and leadership in the district. Change 150 spokesman Sea Stipe says the vote reflects community support:
“We would like to offer our thanks to Laura Petelle for her five years of service to the Peoria School District. That’s no small thing and we appreciate that. Having said that, obviously the community has stepped up and said that they want a change,” Stipe says.
Wolstenholm is expected to step down even though she won. That means the School Board has 45 days to appoint a replacement after Petelle’s term ends in July. Whoever is selected to fill the seat will serve for one year, until next spring elections. Petelle says she was honored to serve the last five years on the board. She says it’s unfortunate some people voted against her because they were angry at the District.