Three incumbent School Board members retained their seats in Tuesday’s election, and the open seat this year will be filled by Linda Bouchard.

Michael Debranski, the incumbent Suffolk Borough school board member, held onto his seat against Deborah Wahlstrom with 1,390 votes versus Wahlstrom’s 706 votes. Debranski is also on advisory board member for the Suffolk branch of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Virginia.

“I really appreciate all the help the electorate gave me in voting for me,” Debranski said. “Deb was a good candidate. I hope I can live up to the standards the Suffolk City School Board expects to develop.”

Throughout the remaining months of his term and looking into the beginning of next year, Debranski said his focus will be to continue to raise graduation rates, improve the instructional program and, if possible, to get something done for the teachers.

In Chuckatuck, Linda Bouchard garnered 2,131 votes to fill the seat vacated by William Whitley, who is retiring. Her competitor, Dorothy Gamble, received 1,456 votes.

Bouchard has 20 years of teaching experience in Suffolk Public Schools, where she retired from this year. She was an active PTA member and is now the caregiver to her granddaughter.

“I’m just delighted,” Bouchard said. “I’m truly humbled. My opponent was worthy and had a true desire to serve the city.”

Bouchard added that she felt it was her ability to treat the seat as a full-time job that helped win her the election.

The first thing she hopes to do after taking the seat in January is to focus on tightening the schools’ discipline policy, which she feels is critical for academic success.

In Cypress, the current School Board chairwoman, Lorraine Skeeter, won with 1,440 votes against William Goodman, who received 1,057 votes.

Skeeter recently retired from Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project and also formerly taught at Prestige Jordan Day School and Kindergarten and served as a bus driver in Suffolk Public Schools.

“I’m so thankful to the voters,” Skeeter said. “I feel they believe in what I’ve done throughout my years here. I’m excited to be here for another four years, and am looking forward to continuing to strengthen some weaknesses in the areas of AYP results and student achievement.”

Skeeter added that Goodman is a “good friend” of hers, and she hopes to be able to consult him on issues.

Holy Neck’s incumbent school board member, Enoch Copeland, beat out retired educator William Owen to keep his seat.

With the closest numbers in the race, Copeland received 1,638 votes versus Owen’s 1,371 votes.

Copeland is a retired educator and served on the City Council and as vice mayor. He was a teacher and principal in Suffolk Public Schools and is a member of the NAACP.

“I have nothing but praise for my supporters and my opponent,” Copeland said. “It was a hard fought fight. I just hope the board can work better than it has in the past. I think we owe that to the citizens. We have a mandate from the people and with the help of the good Lord, I will try to fulfill that.”