BERNE — In a close race, Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board President Matthew Tedeschi won another three-year term on the board Tuesday.

The reorganization meeting also tapped Lillian Sisson-Chrysler, a board member since 2015, to be the board’s new vice president.

BERNE — After years of eking out wins, and sometimes facing budget defeats, Berne-Knox-Westerlo saw its $22.6 million budget for next year pass by a landslide on Tuesday.

Three candidates vying for two school board seats had a cordial exchange on Tuesday as all three of them said their top priority for the rural district with declining enrollment is a sustainable spending plan.

Two Berne-Knox-Westerlo alumni with similar views were just two votes apart in a five-way race for two vacant school board seats.

Five candidates — more than have run for years — are seeking two seats on the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board in a special election on Feb. 23.