Huntley District 158 board president resigns

Huntley Unit District 158 school board President Shawn Green announced his resignation Thursday night.

In his resignation letter, Green cited the increasing demands his conservative activism, his job and the recent birth of his first child have placed on his time. Green said he will soon begin serving as a Republican precinct committeeman.

"Heightened professional responsibilities and the recent arrival of my first child make it impossible to serve in both public offices with the dedication I demand of myself," Green wrote.

Green has missed numerous board meetings during the past two years because of a work-related injury and conflicts with his work schedule.

Green, who has made no secret of his conservative views or his admiration for Ronald Reagan, said he would take a more active role in local politics. He blasted Democrats for their "radical" agenda and said the Republican Party has "strayed from its conservative roots."

"I've always considered myself to be conservative first, Republican second," Green said Thursday. "I want to be more involved in the Republican Party so I can help steer it back to a conservative focus."

Green was first elected in 2005 along with two other newcomers in the aftermath of a contentious 2004 referendum campaign. The board elected Green board president in 2007.

As a new board member, Green helped select Superintendent John Burkey after Steve Swanson resigned the district's top post in the wake of controversy over misinformation distributed during the tax hike campaign.

Green presided over the board as the district completed a far-reaching audit of the district's books to resolve lingering questions about how Swanson and his administrative team managed the district's finances.

Green frequently clashed with board members Larry Snow and Aileen Seedorf, going so far as to liken their actions to terrorism after Seedorf filed a police report against a fellow board member in 2007. The board member was not charged.

Green said Thursday he regretted "a couple poor choices of words."

Despite the war of words, Green and his opponents were able to work together when the occasion demanded it, as during the teacher contract negotiations and a brief teachers strike in 2008.

Green was re-elected to a 4-year term less than a year ago, in April 2009. The Schaumburg police detective said Thursday he will serve until the board chooses his replacement.

Board Vice President Kevin Gentry said he was disappointed but not surprised by Green's resignation.

"I had some private conversations with him - so it's not a huge surprise," Gentry said. "It's a disappointment losing someone who has made such a great contribution to the district."

The board has not yet determined how it will replace Green, but board members said they will probably follow past practice in soliciting applications, holding public interviews and selecting a new member at a public meeting.

The new board member would serve until the spring 2011 elections, Green said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related documents</h2> <ul class="morePdf"> <li><a href="/pdf/greenresignationletter.doc">Shawn Green resignation letter</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>