Although only one incumbent was re-elected to the Warren local Board of Education Tuesday, the three men who will take office Jan. 1 are no strangers to the board and the district.

Former district treasurer Sidney Brackenridge led all vote-getters with 1,545 votes, followed by incumbent Bob Allen with 1,387 and former board member Bob Crum with 1,188.

Brackenridge, 62, of Little Hocking, retired as the district's treasurer in 2008. He said one of his main concerns is the district's facilities.

"The main thing is achieving an excellent rating for the district and that means making sure the facilities are top notch," he said.

Brackenridge added that the potential bond issue for new or renovated schools is an important topic and the board will work toward a plan on a tight time schedule.

Allen, 52, of Little Hocking, was appointed to the board in March to fill a vacated seat.

"I'm very happy and pleased to serve another term," said Allen.

Allen toured all of the districts schools recently and said he has concerns about each one.

"Each school has its own unique set of problems. We'll get costs for repairing buildings and hold upcoming informational meetings for the public" with regard to the bond issue, he said.

Allen said that Barlow-Vincent Elementary is overcrowded and Little Hocking Elementary's poor heating system forces teachers to open the windows of the third-floor classrooms in the winter because of the rising heat.

"We need to do whatever it takes within our financial constraints to help the kids," he said.

Crum, 61, of Belpre, previously served on the board for six-and-a-half years. He, too, is concerned about the condition of the buildings in the district.

"I believe that we're in one of the more opportune times to pursue new structures," he said.

Crum added that the district's teachers should be rewarded for doing a good job and working in poor conditions.

"Many people would see the conditions of our buildings and go elsewhere for employment, so we need to look for ways to keep our teachers and experience we have," he said.

In his mind, the ideal buildings would be more accessible to the public, even those community members who don't have children who attend school in the district.

"We need to include a community center or an educational complex where, if somebody wants to reserve it for a family reunion, they can," Crum said.

The race for the third and final seat was a close one. Incumbent Dan McDermott, 48, of Cutler, received 1,169 votes, 19 fewer than Crum. Garry Marks, of Belpre, received 3 fewer votes than McDermott.

McDermott said he would wait to hear the final results from the board of elections (provisional ballots have not been tallied) and if Crum remains ahead, he will wish him the best of luck.