Sikeston school board president steps down

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Citing an event last month that has brought "embarrassing inquiries" and "unflattering public attention" to the district, an apologetic Paul H. Boyd stepped down as president of the Sikeston school board.

Boyd, who has served as a senior U.S. probation officer for the Eastern District of Missouri since 1995 and a member of the school board since 2004, was arrested early Oct. 25 in Cape Girardeau on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Boyd, 43, submitted his letter of resignation as president late Monday afternoon to superintendent Steve Borgsmiller. On Tuesday, board members unanimously voted to accept his request during the regular school board meeting. Boyd will remain a member of the school board.

After the vote, Boyd addressed the board and crowd of mostly district administrators at the meeting.

"I'm sure that many of you are keenly aware of recent events in my personal life, which have generated a flurry of media attention directed at me and my family and friends, co-workers at the United States Probation Office and my colleagues on the board of education and the many fine administrators and teachers, staff and even students at the Sikeston R-6 School District," Boyd said.

Boyd said he will continue to have no comment regarding the facts of the event, but given Tuesday's vote by the board to accept his resignation, he thought some comment was appropriate, he said.

"The people that I mentioned ... have been subjected to countless embarrassing inquiries from others regarding the subject and have been placed in a position -- through no fault of your own -- and have been forced to defend the district against a sad fact which was completely beyond your control," Boyd said. "For that, as well as the unflattering public attention that the district has received ... I sincerely apologize."

Board members selected vice president Ann Jones as president and board member Rick Adams as vice president. They will hold office until the reorganization of the board after the April election.