<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3PBmkf_1FOn9NdL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3PBmkf_1FOn9NdL00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Buy Now Sioux Center School District Board of Education member Scott TeStroete smiles as he talks to fellow board member Jerod Work at the meeting Monday night. Having served as a board member since 2013, TeStroete announced his resignation from the board Monday. Sam Bonner sbonner@nwestiowa.com</figcaption></figure>SIOUX CENTER—A tenured run on the Sioux Center School District Board of Education is coming to an end after board member Scott TeStroete announced his resignation at the end of the meeting Monday.56-year-old TeStroete has served as a board member since 2013 and was up for re-election in November 2027.“This will be my last meeting, I will be resigning from the board. Next year I was up for election and I was not going to run,” he said. “But just knowing some of the bigger decisions that might be coming this year, I felt that it would be appropriate for someone to get in before those. I don’t want to make the decision and say ‘good luck to you.’”While he wants someone else to be part of the board’s decision making process, the outgoing member called it a tough choice to leave.“It’s very bittersweet, I have loved every second of it,” he said.TeStroete said he had been considering the matter for awhile before his final decision.“I’d love to continue but I don’t think that’s the right thing to do for me. Hopefully I can hand the baton off and someone can hit the ground running and continue with that, that they’ll run for their own term,” he said.By resigning early, TeStroete said he hopes to give his replacement time to learn and adjust to the school board.“As we all know, being new board members, it takes time to figure out what all these stupid acronyms are. I still don’t know what they mean, I just nod my head like I do,” he said with a laugh. “I really appreciate the opportunity from the people and it’s been a blast to be on the journey with everyone.”Members of the board shared praise for TeStroete. Board president Tim Gesink said TeStroete made them all better.“I echo Tim’s point about making us better. You brought the lifetime understanding of this community,” said superintendent Gary McEldowney. “You’re very plugged in, you’re very passionate. You having the former city council lens I think served us very well. You get the complexities of the big picture and the details at the same time. You’ve been here through the craziest things that the school district’s ever gone through.”“Ninety-eight percent of the meetings were enjoyable,” TeStroete said.As part of his resignation letter to the school board, TeStroete made one last request.“I would really like to give my youngest daughter her diploma. That was actually asked by her,” he said.TeStroete said his youngest daughter Brooke is a junior and will begin her senior year at Sioux Center High School next year. Having given diplomas to his other children, he said he would like to give Brooke hers as well.“I think we can arrange that,” said council member Jerod Work “When people ask about one of the greatest things we do on the school board, I tell them the most fun thing we get to do is hand out the diplomas.”TeStroete joked that between his time on the Sioux Center City Council and school board, he had likely sat through hundreds of meeting agendas.“It was my privilege. Pick on whoever sits here, that’s all I ask,” he said. “Just pick on them.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4SgwDg_1FOn9NdL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4SgwDg_1FOn9NdL00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Buy Now Sioux Center School District Board of Education member Scott TeStroete shrugs off praise from fellow member Jerod Work during a meeting Monday. Board members shared praised for TeStroete who announced his resignation at the meeting. Sam Bonner sbonner@nwestiowa.com</figcaption></figure><h2>Filling the vacancy</h2>Reviewing sections of the Iowa Code, board members discussed the next steps for filling TeStroete’s seat.“The vacant seat will be filled by board appointment within 30 days of that vacancy,” Gesink said.District business manager Jeana Van Voorst said she will need to double check details on what is all needed, but that the board must publish their intention.According to Iowa Code, voters have the opportunity to petition for a special election within 14 days of the public notice. Van Voorst was unsure at the time of the meeting how many voter signatures would be needed for a petition.“I would guess it’d be a percentage or a number,” she said.Whether by appointment or special election, TeStorete’s replacement would serve until the end of his term and would be up for re-election in November 2027.“If the board is unable to fill the vacancy by appointment within 30 days after the vacancy occurs, or if a valid petition is submitted, the board’s secretary will call a special election to be held no sooner than 60 days and not later than 70 days,” Gesink said.McEldowney noted that the board has a work session in 14 days and would likely not be able to file a replacement in time.“Are we declaring tonight that our intent is to fill the vacancy by appointment if we have the opportunity? Do we have to declare that?” Gesink said.Van Voorst said she would review what publication entails, but hopes to have a public notice by next week.While the board irons out the details, Gesink said members can begin thinking about who they would want to appoint to fill TeStorete’s seats.</div></body>

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SIOUX CENTER—A tenured run on the Sioux Center School District Board of Education is coming to an end after board member Scott TeStroete announced his resignation at the end of the meeting Monday. 56-year-old TeStroete has served as a board member since 2013 and was up for re-election in...

School board member announces resignation

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SIOUX CENTER—A tenured run on the Sioux Center School District Board of Education is coming to an end after board member Scott TeStroete announced his resi

School board member announces resignation

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