Veteran member of Franklin Regional board stepping down

A veteran Franklin Regional School Board member will step down later this month.

Board Vice President Joe Seymour submitted his resignation to the board Monday evening, effective following the June 17 board meeting. He cited family and work obligations as the impetus for his decision.

“Since running for this position seven, eight years ago, I've become increasingly busy,” Seymour said. “I've missed more meetings in the last six months than the last seven years combined.”

Seymour, a father of five, is a financial advisor.

Seymour's second term expires in November. He elected not to run for re-election in what has become a divided school board race. Eight candidates ran for party nominations for four seats in last month's primary – however, all eight received nominations, with the Republican and Democratic parties each choosing four different candidates.

The board has 30 days to replace Seymour, but does not meet in July. Yingling said the board will appoint a replacement on June 17. His shoes will be tough ones to fill, Yingling said.

“Joe certainly will be missed,” Yingling said.

But that replacement will not be any of the five newcomers who will appear on November's ballot, Yingling said. Instead, the board would prefer to reappoint a former board member. Board member Roberta Cook suggested using a former board member who is familiar with the job, rather than throwing a newcomer into a temporary position.

“There are no crucial, earth-shattering issues to deal with,” Cook said. “All of the heavy issues are done for the year.”

The board requested that any former board member interested in serving the final four months of Seymour's term send a letter of intent by June 14 to Karen Cadwell, board secretary.

Daveen Rae Kurutz is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 8627, or dkurutz@tribweb.com.