Scott County Central school board member resigns

Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Scott County Central school board member decided Wednesday to step down from his position.

Eric Kesler said his resignation, which was effective immediately, came because the issue of his residency was creating too much of a distraction for the district, its teachers and students.

"I can take the black eyes," Kesler said. "But I don't want the district to take the black eyes, and it was starting to rub off on Scott Central."

Kesler said he talked to the state attorney general's office at the beginning of the week to figure out a way he could still stay on the board, but there was no loophole. State law requires school board members to reside within the boundaries of their school district. Kesler resides in the Oran School District and not the Scott County Central School District.

"I just live one-eighth of a mile in the wrong direction," Kesler said.

The next step is for the remaining members of the school board to appoint someone to serve until the next school board election.