May 29, 2020 3:40 a.m.
After 12 years of service to Roseburg Public Schools and the community, School Board of Directors Chairman Joe Garcia has resigned his position.
That announcement was made at the conclusion of Wednesday’s school board meeting. In his letter of resignation, Garcia said, “it has been an honor to serve my community in this role”.
Garcia had served as chairman of the board since 2018. Director Steve Patterson, who has served on the board since 2010 and has been vice-chairman for the past two years, will become the board chairman.
An RPS release said Garcia’s service has “helped guide the district as it has grown and endeavored to provide the best education possible to students”. He most recently served as chairman of the Administration and Personnel Committee and was a member of the Building & Sites and Finance Committees, as well as alternate on the Student Services Committee for 2019-20.
Superintendent Jared Cordon said Garcia “has been a champion of Roseburg school district and public education in general throughout his tenure on the school board”. Cordon said Garcia had helped to raise awareness about the value of public schools in the community and “the vital need to support our schools”.
Garcia told News Radio 1240 KQEN that it was time to move on and spend more time with his family. He said his intent was to resign two years ago, “but I was asked to stay to help the district make some transitions”. He said resigning now allows the board the flexibility and time to move forward with filling his position. He said he is confident in the board and its ability to continue to move the district in the right direction. Garcia told KQEN, “more importantly, we have the right superintendent in place, Jared Cordon, who is the person who will lead this district to be what this community and kids deserve”.
The release said the district will release information soon about applications for candidates interested in serving in the position. Garcia’s term would have ended June 30th, 2023, but the newly appointed position will run through June 30th, 2021. The seat will then be up for election in May of 2021, and the new term will begin in July of 2021.