District 3 board member joins village board

Before becoming Fox River Grove's mayor in April, Bob Nunamaker served as vice president of the District 3 school board alongside local business owner Steve Knar.

Now Knar is following Nunamaker's footsteps to village hall.

Knar has resigned after more than four years on the school board to become a Fox River Grove trustee.

Nunamaker appointed Knar to a village board seat vacated after former trustee Dennis Bowman moved out of Fox River Grove.

"We picked Mr. Knar because he had a very good reputation with all the people in the village and the work he had done with the school board," Nunamaker said.

Knar had mulled a run for the village board in the spring, but ultimately decided to seek re-election to the school board. He decided to change roles after helping oversee renovations at the aging Algonquin Road School.

"I feel pretty good about when I came on and where we're at right now in terms of our financial stability," Knar said. "I probably wouldn't have resigned if I felt the district wasn't in good shape."

District 3 school board President Pat Hughes credited Knar with effectively managing the district's budget and spearheading the Algonquin Road School project. Knar also was co-chair of the committee that successfully campaigned for a 2004 tax increase.

"I'd just like to thank Steve for his contributions," Hughes said. "We're going to miss that enthusiasm he brought to the board."

The school board is interviewing three candidates to fill Knar's seat, and is set to make an appointment on Sept. 28.

Both Knar and his replacement will serve until the spring 2011 elections, officials said.

Knar, who turned 44 Monday, said he hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the village board.

"The experience of the school board helps me a little bit," Knar said. "Hopefully I'm helping represent the younger families in the community."