Cites health reasons for leaving elected post

 

CHESAPEAKE — The president of the Chesapeake Board of Education is leaving the school board with less than two years left on his first term.

Jerry Osborne submitted his letter of resignation to the superintendent’s office on Monday citing health reasons.

“I have come to the conclusion I am not a politician,” Osborne said. “I can’t point to any one situation or problem that has arisen. But the stress and anxiety grows within me. It is getting to the point it is starting to affect my health, my family and work relationship.

“I came to the conclusion before I have a serious health problem. I don’t want it to affect things in my family life or work.”

Osborne said he made the decision over the weekend after discussing it with fellow board members.

The AEP line supervisor was elected to the board in November 2009 and has served as president twice. That election also brought to the board County Commissioner Bill Pratt, who resigned last year when he was appointed to the commission.

“Jerry is just a tremendous individual, a great addition and help to the Chesapeake community,” Pratt said. “I respect his decision and appreciate his service and wish him well.”

Also serving with Osborne until 2011 was Proctorville veterinarian Dr. Mike Dyer.

“He was a very sincere board member and took every decision to heart,” Dyer said. “His motivation was pure. He was a good man, very sincere and didn’t have any ulterior motives.”

Finding a replacement for Pratt in the spring of 2011 divided the school board two to two with Osborne and fellow member David Bennett supporting Jerry Frye, a retired CSX engineering employee.

Dr. Kim Oxley and Dyer wanted Alex Martin, an audiologist with King’s Daughters Medical Center. The board was unable to resolve the deadlock putting it in the hands of County Juvenile/Probate Judge David Payne.

Payne named Ironton attorney Curt Anderson, who served through 2011.

In the November 2011 general election Frye was voted to the school board.

Osborne said his time on the school board has increased his respect for education.

“There have been some great accomplishments with student achievement,” he said. “I have a much better appreciation for teachers and anybody in the education field. … I think Chesapeake has been blessed with a lot of good employees. So many people in the school system go beyond to serve our students and community. I will never look at education the same way.”

The school board has 30 days to fill the vacancy from the date of Osborne’s resignation. If it is unable to, the Ohio Revised Code places that responsibility on the county juvenile/probate/ judge.