By Michael Howell
For unstated reasons on August 25, Florence Carlton School Board trustee Colby Reynolds emailed notice of his resignation to Superintendent Bud Scully and to trustees Tara Zeiler, Jay Dixon, Pat Appleby and Mel Finlay. The e-mail stated simply, “I am officially resigning from the Florence Carlton School Board effective 8-24-2014. Thank you.”
Then, about a week later, on September 2, Reynolds e-mailed only Scully, Zeiler and Dixon and stated simply, “Please withdraw my resignation.”
Unfortunately, according to a couple of board members, state law says that a resignation is effective 72 hours after its submission unless it is withdrawn during that 72-hour period by the resigner through written notification.
Board member Pat Appleby said that she believes the resignation is still effective because it was not withdrawn within the statutory time limit of 72 hours. Board member Mel Finlay agrees. Both say that the board itself has never discussed the issue and they insist that it should be on the next board agenda. Both also say that they do not know Reynolds’ reason for resigning.
Appleby said she had talked to board chair Tara Zeiler and she was confident the issue would be on the October 13 agenda because two trustees had asked for it.
Superintendent Bud Scully confirmed that the issue would be on the next agenda and said he was looking for guidance from the County Attorney about the law and hoped to get an answer by the next meeting.
Colby Reynolds has no listed phone number that works and could not be contacted for comment.