The first Oregon school board meeting of the year took a frosty tone as the two new board members clashed with the incumbents.

The board members were divided on who should be on the board's leadership team and whether to spend money on board training. Later in the meeting, one member indirectly accused another of bullying an elementary principal after getting a salary increase.

The new board took shape this month following a heated election in November where P.J. Kapfhammer and Jeff Zivisksi won seats on the board after they campaigned against recently approved raises for Superintendent Michael Zalar and other administrators.

But several days after the Jan. 5 organizational meeting, several members said they were confident the board members could work together and resolve any tension.

"I think the board will do just fine," said board member Richard Gabel, who was chosen as president during the meeting.

"New members come in, they need to find out what's going on. Sometimes, they come in with a misconception with what's happened."

The divided votes also show the board members have different opinions on issues, which will fuel a stronger debate that ultimately benefits the district, Mr. Kapfhammer said.

At the meeting, Mr. Kapfhammer and Mr. Ziviski both said they were against spending taxpayer money to listen to a presentation by Cheryl Ryan, deputy director of school board services at the Ohio School Boards Association. Ms. Ryan spoke to the board on topics from how to communicate with the public to how to operate in executive session.

Ray Campos, front, and other supporters applaud P.J. Kapfhammer as he is sworn into his new school board post. THE BLADE/LORI KING Enlarge | Photo Reprints

The presentation cost $800 and the district paid for it from a $5,000 fund to provide education and training for the school board, treasurer Jane Fruth said.

"I think time and money is better focused on test scores and achievement," Mr. Ziviski said.

But other board members argued the training was important to keep them informed and make them a better board.

"If we don't have educated board members, we won't have educated decisions," board member Carol-Ann Molnar said.

Without mentioning any specific names, Mr. Gabel asked whether it was proper for a school board member to meet with an elementary school principal to demand that he or she give back a salary raise, otherwise that board member would not approve his or her contract.

Mr. Kapfhammer chimed in and argued he was a private citizen, not yet sworn in on the board, when he met with the principals.

After the meeting, Mr. Kapfhammer said he met with the elementary principals after he was elected into office in November.

"We talked back and forth. I had stated in the discussion, I didn't feel good about those raises. I was going to have a hard time supporting anybody who took those raises. They saw that as a threat," he said. "I went there for one reason, how can you improve test scores? I didn't go there to threaten anybody."

The board also voted 3-2 for Diana Gadus to be the next vice president, a vote that the incumbent board members were in favor of and the two new ones were against.

Mr. Gabel, who nominated her, pointed to her experience as to why she should help lead the board.

"She's been on the board for two years. She was vice president last year," Mr. Gabel said. "I think she'll do a fine job."

The two new board members both voted for Mr. Ziviski to be vice president.

"It's no secret there was an us versus them" mentality between the new and old board members, Mr. Kapfhammer said during the meeting.

"We're trying to start fresh. I believe [Mr. Ziviski] is the next best person to be vice president. That's why I nominate him."