NEWPORT — With two incumbents stepping aside, three candidates are running for two, three-year terms for the School Board in the March 11 annual school meeting election.

Keith Sayer, appointed to the board last year, former School Board and Selectboard member Bert Spaulding Sr. and Jessica Packard, a former teacher in the Newport School District are on the ballot.

Incumbents Steve Morris, the board chairman, and Kathryn Boutin the vice chair are not seeking reelection.

Also on the ballot is Nikki Murphy, who is running unopposed for a one-year term on the board.

Murphy, a local business owner, ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the New Hampshire House last November.

Jessica Packard

Packard, 43, is the administrative coordinator with Yankee Barn Homes in Grantham. She previously worked in the school district in a few different positions including paraprofessional, dean of students and administrative assistant. She has two children in the Newport schools and has also volunteered in the district and is a member of the PTA.

Packard said high turnover of staff and administration is something she hopes to help address if elected.

“I’ve seen a lot of turnover in the staff and administration and I would really like to see our current teaching staff stay,” Packard said.

Packard said she wants to improve the school climate for staff.

“I just want to work to make it a better place for people so they want to stay,” she said.

As a taxpayer in the district and a former teacher, Packard said she has felt the impact of turnover and taxes on both sides.

“I wish we could pay more but as a taxpayer, I feel the burden of that,” Packard said. “I see both sides and it will be a challenge.”

Bert Spaulding Sr.

Spaulding, 77, resigned from the School Board last year following a dispute with the administration and board over the budget.

He was elected to the Selectboard in May, but also resigned that seat a few months later.

Spaulding said he did not want to speak  about his candidacy but did say he wanted voters to “think about what type of school systems they want for students” when they vote.

Keith Sayer

Sayer, who was appointed to the School Board last year following a resignation, did not respond to several email messages about his candidacy.

Sayer was on the Selectboard for one, three-year term but lost his seat at Town Meeting last May.

He finished fourth among four candidates on the ballot.

Ballot voting will take place on Tuesday, March 11 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Newport Middle High School.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.