Metzger won't seek sixth term in Dist. 204

Metea Valley High School is built, Superintendent Kathryn Birkett is firmly entrenched and Indian Prairie Unit District 204 continues to weather the economic storm.

So Mark Metzger can rest.

The 20-year district veteran who joined the school board in 1991 at the age of 26, said Monday that his run as the district's longest-serving board member has come to an end.

“Even Thomas Jefferson said that every government is due for a revolution every 20 years,” Metzger said. “After 20 years, I just think it's time that I find other things I have a passion for and interest in.”

After first being elected in 1991, he served as board secretary from 1993-1995 and 2001-2003. And he served as president in 1995, 1997-1999, and 2007-2009.

He's proud of more district achievements during his tenure than he can list, saying it wouldn't be fair to single out any handful that popped into his head.

“I've had the privilege to work with a uniformly strong group of people working together for the greater good of our kids,” he said. “Every day we have kids go to school to learn, come home happy and become better citizens. The work done on a daily basis in District 204 is extraordinary.”

And he leaves with no regrets, saying it's impossible to “get an educational community into a permanent state of perfection.”

Metzger's departure leaves two incumbents, Curt Bradshaw and Alka Tyle and an unknown number of newcomers fighting for three open board seats in April. But Metzger said he's happy to pass the torch.

“I have had conversations with folks who have expressed interest in joining the board and leading it into the future,” he said. “They have the necessary skills and talents so I'm happy to leave the position to them.”

Bradshaw, who took over the presidency from Metzger in 2009 after Metzger wrote a controversial e-mail to a constituent, said his knowledge and history will be missed.

“Mark's 20-year tenure is more than the rest of the board's combined,” Bradshaw said. “So the board will undoubtedly be losing a great deal of experience and institutional memory.”

Come May, Metzger has not yet figured how he'll be spending his newfound free time but he's got a hunch how it will be spent once September rolls around.

“I understand they play football on Monday nights,” he said. “That sounds like something I might like to check out.”