Oak Harbor School Board President John Diamond announced his resignation from the board, effective April 4, during Monday’s meeting.

Diamond was first elected to the board in 2017 and was re-elected in November of last year. His term would have expired in 2025. He said the reason for his resignation is that he accepted a job in Longview, Wash., that begins April 11.

The remaining board members will elect a new president and initiate an application process to find a new board member at their next meeting, which will take place on April 11.

Diamond bid an emotional farewell to his board colleagues after making his announcement.

“It has indeed been an honor and a privilege to serve with you and to participate in the work that we do for these kids and for our community,” he said. “I’ve loved it, and I will miss it.”

Diamond’s years on the board haven’t been without drama, especially with the pandemic drastically changing the way schools operate.

At meetings in August and September, Diamond ordered audience members to clear the room after people continually shouted over board members and refused to wear masks.

Diamond was challenged in the general election by Jessica Thompson, who claimed masks were ineffective and that the board’s motive were “obvious, disgusting and worthy of all public rebuke.” Diamond won reelection with 51.5% of the vote.

In February, voters soundly defeated the board’s proposal for a $184-million bond to fund construction of three new elementary schools, a new HomeConnection/Hand-in-Hand Early Childhood Learning Center and a new transportation center.

Then in March, the board named Michelle Kuss-Cybula as the new superintendent.