DURHAM - The Durham school board met briefly Monday night to induct its newest member and choose a new chairman and vice chairman for the coming school year.

Incumbents Minnie Forte-Brown and Heidi Carter were sworn in for their second terms after running unopposed in May's election.

Newest board member Leigh Bordley also was sworn in. Her journey to the at-large seat wasn't nearly as easy. She faced two contenders, Nancy Cox and Jonathan Alston, in the May election. After a close second-place finish to Alston, she challenged him to a runoff and won in a sweeping victory late last month.

The board chose Forte-Brown to serve as its chairwoman for the third straight year, and Carter as vice chairwoman. Outgoing board member Steve Schewel had been vice chairman.

"We all see this as our common mission, and that's a really good thing," Carter said to fellow board members after being selected for the post. "I just look forward to the continued work of this board to develop policies and practices to continue student achievement."