ST. JOHNSVILLE — Res-idents of the newly merged Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johns-ville Central School District Tuesday, Jan. 29 voted in favor of a 7-seat board of education with members serving full terms of 3 years.

The referendum asked voters to decide how many members should be on the new board of education (5, 7 or 9), and how long the members should serve per term (3, 4 or 5 years).

250 voters cast ballots for a 7-member board with 51 voting for a 5-member board and 44 voting for a 9-member board. 224 voted in favor of 3-year terms with 73 casting ballots for 4-year terms and 36 voting for 5-year terms.

Voters will return to the polls on Tuesday, March 19 to elect members to the new board of education from a slate of board candidates. Petitions for residents interested in running for the board of education will be available beginning Feb. 6. Completed petitions must be filed no later than Feb. 25.

In order to stagger the number of board members to be elected each year, candidates elected with the most votes on March 19 will serve the longest initial terms; and those elected with the fewest votes will serve the shortest terms. In subsequent referendums, elected candidates will serve full 3-year terms.

The new board members will assume authority over the district as soon as they are elected, and will be responsible for selecting a superintendent, negotiating contracts with all bargaining units and finalizing the district’s first budget.

Residents will vote on the proposed budget May 21.