By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – District 87 school board member Mary Yount resigned Thursday after 10 years on the board.
With Yount’s departure, the district is accepting applications to fill the remaining two years of her term, which expires in April 2021.
in a prepared statement, Yount said she wants to spend time with her children and grandchildren, and also care for elderly family members. Yount is a retired nurse.
Now that her four children have graduated from District 87, Yount said she doesn’t have as much contact with parents who would talk to her about various school issues.
Yount was first elected in 2009 and won re-election to two more four-year terms.
“I feel very honored to have had the opportunity to serve on the District 87 school board with so many caring, like-minded people, who wanted to bring the best educational opportunities to our children and to support the many administrators and staff members who interact with our students,” Yount said in a prepared statement.
“It has been a joy and a blessing to be part of such a great organization,” Yount also said.
“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with Mary over the last decade to help the entire District 87 community,” Superintendent Barry Reilly said in a statement.
“Mary has been a strong leader, fierce advocate for students and staff, and an excellent steward of the tax dollars coming from our community,” said Reilly.
“She has definitely left a very positive mark on the district and she will be missed,” Reilly also said.
Eligible community members have until September 10 to apply for the vacant board seat.
People interested in the position should send a letter expressing their interest along with a résumé and an overview of why they believe they can be an effective school board member to Wilma Gleason, board secretary, at 300 E Monroe st., Bloomington, IL 61701.
The board will interview candidates and select Yount’s replacement in time for the September 25 board meeting.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
