Wichita school board member Barbara Fuller resigns

Wichita school board member Barbara Fuller resigned from the board Monday – the second resignation in as many months.

Fuller, a retired teacher and former teachers union president, announced toward the end of the board’s regular meeting that she would resign effective immediately because she had moved out of the district.

Fuller, 71, was first elected to the school board in 2007. She represented District 3, which includes portions of southeast Wichita. Her term expires in January 2020.

Board members voted 5-1 to move quickly to appoint Fuller’s replacement in coming weeks. The new board member must live in District 3 and cannot be a district employee.

Board members directed the clerk of the board to post a notice of the vacancy Thursday. The board will hold a special meeting Dec. 6 to interview potential candidates.

Board member Joy Eakins opposed the swift timeline, saying board members elected in Tuesday’s election should make the appointment.

“I don’t think that’s the right decision,” Eakins said.

Board member Lynn Rogers disagreed.

“I would normally say that would be OK if our positions were expiring Wednesday,” Rogers said. “Our positions do not expire until Jan. 8 – that’s 60 days where this seat would not have a representative.”

Fuller is the second Wichita school board member to resign in two months. Jeff Davis resigned in September after moving out of the district. The board appointed Stan Reeser to fill his unexpired term.

After Monday’s meeting, Fuller said her favorite memories of serving on the board will be “the interaction with the kids.”

“I think that I feel satisfied with my service on the board,” she said.

This story was originally published November 6, 2017 at 10:13 PM with the headline "Wichita school board member Barbara Fuller resigns."