Challengers and incumbents split the victories in the Post Falls and Lakeland school board trustee elections on Tuesday.

In Post Falls, Zone 2 incumbent Michelle Lippert defeated challenger Robin Moser, an industrial mechanic, 121-91.

"I think the difference was my connection with the parents in our community," said Lippert, a North Idaho College philosophy and ethics instructor who has been on the board for the past 12 years.

"In addition to being on the school board, I'm a part of the PTOs, senior parents and scouting parents. I think our leadership team is outstanding, and I didn't want to break up that team at a time when experienced leadership is needed the most."

Zone 2 includes central Post Falls, west of Highway 41 and an area south of Interstate 90 between Spokane Street and Greensferry.

Zone 3 challenger Bonnie Beaulieu, a real estate agent, edged Dave Paul, regional director for USDA's Risk Management Agency, 174-170.

"It was a lot of hard work and a lot of door knocking and talking to people," Beaulieu said.

Paul has been on the board for eight years.

Zone 3 is on Post Falls' north side and east of McGuire and west of Chase extending to south of the Spokane River.

At Lakeland, Kyle Olmstead retained his Zone 1 seat by defeating Bob Weaver, a semi-retired realtor, 131-99.

Olmstead, who owns Olmstead Metal Consulting, has served for the past seven years.

Zone 1 is in the northwest part of the district that includes Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes.

Challenger John Shaffer ousted Barbara Puckett for the Zone 2 seat 170-122.

Shaffer, the superintendent of Airtech Mechanical Company, a commercial HVAC contracting firm, said he was confident the race would be close.

"I'm active in the community and I believed that I could give her a good run," Shaffer said. "I'm for the kids; I'm not a politician. My votes will be in the best interest of the kids. I'm not going to say 'yes' because someone higher up thinks that's the way it should be."

Puckett, the postmaster at Hayden, has served on the board for more than six years.

Zone 2 includes the Bayview and Athol areas.

Kootenai levy passes

A two-year supplemental levy of $647,000 a year for two years in the Kootenai School District overwhelmingly passed on Tuesday with 64 percent approval.

A vote of at least 50 percent was needed for the levy to pass. The voting was 316-178 in favor.

District officials say staff reductions will be necessary even with the levy.

The funds will help compensate for expiring federal stimulus funding and state budget cuts. It will not pay for any new programs.

In the Kootenai trustee election for Zone 2, Casey Amy defeated write-in candidate Sigurd Panke 87-22.