The Philomath School Board voted unanimously Thursday night to keep its current leadership in place for another year with the reappointment of Tom Klipfel as chair and Erin McMullen as vice chair.
The votes came during the board’s July 2 meeting in the Philomath High School Community Conference Room. Board members Erin Gudge, Sandi Hering, McMullen and Klipfel, who participated remotely, were present for the vote. Ryan Cheeke arrived late and was not present when the board took action.
Klipfel was the only nominee for chair and was approved 4-0. He has served on the board for 11 years total — a 10-year stint from 2007 to 2017, and again for the past year after winning a seat in the May 2025 special election. He previously chaired the board from 2015 to 2017 and took over the position again this past October after Gudge stepped down.
Board member Sandi Hering praised Klipfel’s handling of the role.
“Tom got kind of thrown into a hornet’s nest, it seemed like the first year with so many challenges, and he has handled every one of them in the exact way that they should have been handled,” Hering said. “For myself, I don’t think actually you could have done any better job than you did.”
Klipfel, a retired supply chain professional, said he’s willing to continue serving “for at least one more year, we’ll see what’s after that.”
McMullen, a farmer and business owner entering her second year on the board, was also approved 4-0 to continue as vice chair. She was elected in May 2025 and took over as vice chair in October when the board reorganized following Klipfel’s move up to chair.
“I think the two of you have been a great team and I think you should stick together for another year,” Hering said.
McMullen said she’s happy to serve in the same capacity for the next year.
“I don’t know that I have a lot to lend with support for Tom,” she said. “He’s made it very easy because he’s got so much together.”
Klipfel thanked the board for its continued trust in the leadership team.
“Thank you all for your vote of confidence as we take on the second year together,” he said.
