Emily Dencklau, Brian Pederson and Keenan Schuur were each elected to their first terms on the board this fall. Board member Diane Pratt was re-elected to her second term on the board.

When bidding farewell to outgoing board members Bill Kent, Angie Tracy and Matt Moritz, Board President Stu Cochrane said he didn’t want to overlook the other candidates that ran for school board this fall.

“It’s challenging, as you know, to put yourself out there and to put your name on the dotted line and ask for people in the public to vote for you to do something as significant as being a volunteer and part of the education process,” he said. “So even those that weren’t successful, I think it’s noteworthy and we appreciate the fact that people are willing to step up for this most commendable cause.”

During Monday’s meeting, Cochrane was unanimously re-elected to the role of board president. Board member Dan Altman was then unanimously elected to the role of vice president.

“Thank you, board. I appreciate it,” Cochrane said after the vote. “I know I’ve said this before, but I don’t take this for granted. The fact that I have an opportunity to work with all of you and lead you on this board means a lot.”

With three new members, Cochrane said he’s looking forward to working with this “young board.”

“We’re going to learn a lot of things,” he said. “We’re going to do a lot of good.”

In other business, the board approved the preliminary plans and estimated cost for a project to renovate the nearly century-old Dodger Stadium.

The project includes tearing down the existing home locker room, rebuilding the locker room, adding onto the concessions area, adding a new entrance, adding new restrooms and upgraded handicap parking, said Ryan Utley, director of buildings and grounds for the district.

In all, the project is estimated to cost about $6 million, which includes roughly $5.4 million for the construction.

Utley explained that this is a project that he has been working on with several previous boards and several previous athletic directors.

“This addresses safety, addresses parking and it addresses handicap accessibility — those things have been issues as much as the locker room has been,” Superintendent Josh Porter said. “I don’t know if we’ve done a remodel or anything at Dodger Stadium for, I’m gonna say over 50 years, maybe since 1936 when it was built.”

What the board approved on Monday were the tentative plans for the project and cost estimate, and directing Utley to put the project out to bid. Bids will be due by 2 p.m. on Dec. 19 and a public hearing will be scheduled for Jan. 8 during the board’s regular meeting.

The Dodger Stadium project will be paid for using funds from the district’s revenue from state sales tax and physical plant and equipment levy, said Brandon Hansel, executive director of financial services for the district.

“We’ve been saving up for the last few years and we’re going to be paying cash for the project,” he said.