With his election win Nov. 8 as Winona Lake clerk-treasurer, Kent Adams officially filed his resignation from the Warsaw School Board with the county clerk’s office Monday morning.
He also announced his resignation Monday night at the regular school board meeting.
School Board President Deb Wiggins and Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz met this morning to put together some dates and information regarding the process to fill Adams’ seat on the board. Wiggins said there are state statues to follow, and there will be an application process. She said they hope to allow the public three to four weeks to get their applications in.
In November 2008, Adams won the District 4 seat to the Warsaw School Board by defeating incumbent Chuck Sauders 1,070 to 722 votes. Adams took his position on the school board in January 2009.
In the May primary earlier this year, Adams defeated Winona Lake incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks. Adams received 54 percent of the votes, or 496 votes. Adams was unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election.
Adams’ resignation from the school board is effective midnight Jan. 1.
In his resignation letter, Adams wrote, in part, “Please allow me to thank all citizens and patrons of the Warsaw Community Schools community for granting me the privilege and opportunity to serve this public trust the past three years.
“Also, my thanks to fellow members of the Board of Trustees, past and present, as well as all corporation staff and administration of the school community. I wish all of you the best as you continue moving forward into the future in the best interests of our youth to whom so much is entrusted to your care.”
Under Indiana Code, school board members must notify the circuit court clerk of the county of their resignation. The clerk then has 72 hours after receipt of the notice to give notice of the vacancy to the school board. The board then has 30 days to fill the vacancy or the position will be filled by circuit court judge.
School board policy states the board “shall seek qualified and interested candidates from the community through the news media, word of mouth, and contacts with appropriate organizations.”
All applicants are to submit a notice of their interest, in writing, to the school superintendent, Dr. Craig Hintz.
The board “shall interview all interested candidates to ascertain their qualifications” and “appointment by the board to fill a vacancy shall be by majority vote of the full board,” according to the policy.
The school board Monday night “regretfully” accepted Adams’ resignation.
