Perry County school board member resigns

Perry County School Board member Jeff Weibrecht has resigned his District 32 post in advance of the April 5 election.

"It was a very hard decision. It did not come easy," he said Tuesday afternoon.

Weibrecht said he saw an opportunity for new faces to serve on the board, and with incumbent and board president Nancy Voelker running to retain her seat, it signaled a smoother transition once Andrew Comstock begins serving as the district's superintendent in June.

"I felt that it was important to have some consistency in leadership with the new superintendent coming in," Weibrecht said.

Comstock declined to comment on Weibrecht's departure.

Superintendent Scott Ireland's contract runs out June 30, when Comstock is set to take the district's reins. Ireland resigned in October, saying district leaders were divided and weren't putting the needs of students first.

Before Ireland's announcement, the school board had voted to censure fellow member Mark Gremaud for inappropriate conduct. Gremaud was alleged to have made an unprovoked, sexist remark to board member Cathy Carron during a closed session last summer.

Although Weibrecht said recent turmoil on the board did not drive his decision to step down after 13 years of service, it took a toll on him and others.

As changes continue occurring in the district, Weibrecht foresees improvements.

"I think we're in a rebuilding stage," he said. "We've got to get back on track for the kids."

Once Weibrecht's resignation is finalized at the board's April 13 meeting, members will begin looking for someone to fill the rest of his term, which ends in April 2017.

Weibrecht's resignation does not affect the two open seats in the Perry County School Board race.

While Voelker is running to retain her position, Rick Francis has decided not to seek another term in favor of running for the Missouri House of Representatives. He has filed as a Republican candidate for the 145th District.

Other board candidates include Mary Bauwens and Richard Dix. The candidate with the most votes among the three who are running will fill the two open seats.

Weibrecht said if only two candidates had been running in the April election, he would not have decided to relinquish his position.

Because the field is wider, he said, "I felt it was an opportune time to get off (the board)."

In the future, Weibrecht said he plans to focus more on his job as a service manager for a plumbing and heating business, and he will remain an advocate for local schools and students.

"I am humbled with the opportunity I've had to serve the community and our kids," he said.

An attempt to contact Ireland for comment was unsuccessful Tuesday.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

326 College St., Perryville, Mo.