Former SJSD Board member issues statement for departure
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- After announcing his departure during a Board reorganization session, Rick Gehring has issued a statement to the St. Joseph community.
During Monday night's meeting, Gehring made mention of "protecting his peace".
"I’ve made the decision to step down from the St. Joseph School Board. It wasn’t something I had been planning, but it also wasn’t made lightly. The weight of the role, combined with a lot of reflection, brought me to this point," said Gehring, in a Facebook post. "The clarity came suddenly, but not without thought and once it did, I knew it was the right decision for me and my family."
Gehring also noted the timing of the decision, as he left the meeting before proceeding to elect the Board president and vice president.
"I realize the timing may have caught some people off guard, and I’m truly sorry for that. This wasn’t about any one issue or moment, it was a mix of things that slowly added up over time. Letting go lifted a burden I didn’t even fully realize I was carrying, but it also came with a deep sense of sadness knowing I may have let others down. That’s something I’ll carry with me for a while."
Gehring proceeded to thank various Board members, community members and district officials.
He also said he is grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve on the SJSD Board of Education.
"I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to serve. It stretched me, challenged me, and made me better. And before I go, I just want to say one last thing: School board members are volunteers. They sacrifice time with their families, their careers, their peace of mind, all to try and make things better for kids." said Gehring. "You don’t have to agree with every decision, but I hope we can all treat them and each other with a little more kindness. It makes a difference."
Gehring resigned with one year left in his term on the SJSD Board of Education.
The Board will look to appoint an applicant to fill Gehring's role for the remainder of his term.
