A new member will be inducted and a veteran member re-inducted today when the Monroe County School Board meets at 4 p.m. in Key West.

Two closed sessions will be held at 3 p.m., followed by the open meeting when the inductions will be held. Members will also elect a chair, give out assignments, and take care of other business on their agenda.

Newly elected member Ed Davidson will be sworn in, as will current board member Andy Griffiths.

Davidson, of Marathon, won the seat in a squeaker election over former Key West High School Principal John Welsh. They were vying for the seat that had been occupied by Duncan Mathewson, who did not seek re-election.

Griffiths defeated challenger Yvette Mira-Talbott to secure a sixth term.

He is considered a likely choice for School Board chair, the position now occupied by John Dick.

"I have done the chair two years in a row," Dick said. "I am not looking for a third year."

Davidson has a reputation for asking questions as a School Board gadfly. Dick said he is confident Davidson will continue the tradition now that he is a board member.

Among other items board members will consider is the contract of Chief Financial Officer Mike Kinneer.

Schools Superintendent Mark Porter has expressed a desire to extend Kinneer's contract, which ends in December, another six months, until June.

jdesantis@keysnews.com