Geneva school board president steps down

The Geneva school board will be picking a new leader, as Tim Moran stepped down as president Monday night.

Moran intends, however, to remain on the board and serve out the rest of his term, which expires in April 2013.

He announced his decision at the start of Monday’s meeting then turned the gavel over to Vice President Mark Grosso, who will serve as president pro tem until the board selects a new president.

Moran gave two reasons for his decision: The time commitment required and his health.

He said he faces an increased workload at his downtown Chicago law firm, Schmidt, Salzman and Moran Ltd. As board president, he not only attended school board meetings but also had to attend other meetings with district staff and outside agencies. Most of those happen during the daytime, Moran said, and it has become more difficult for him to leave work to attend.

As for his health, Moran said he was hospitalized one night last week. While test results have not immediately indicated anything serious, it led him to decide he needed to lighten his schedule and focus on his health, Moran said.

Moran has been on the board since 2005. He has been president since May 2011 and was vice president several years before that. Grosso has been vice president since May 2011.

Trustee Mary Stith, who was board president from 2007 to 2011, said she is not interested in resuming the post.