Oak Harbor School District last week lost a board a member, but retained its superintendent.

School board member John Dyer is calling it quits, after almost 12 years on the board. He announced his resignation effective immediately at Monday’s school board meeting.

“It’s time,” he said later.

He explained he was originally motivated to get involved with the school board while his daughters were in school here. With both girls long since graduated, he felt it was time to move on.

Also, he is involved in several other community groups, as well as being a full-time patrolling Oak Harbor police officer.

“I have to look at where to put my energies,” he said.

He will continue to be active in the local chapter of Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America, Inc., and hopes to buy a boat, and possibly go back to school. He’s thinking of becoming a teacher.

Board member Kathy Chalfant was sorry to see Dyer resign.

“He’s been trying to resign for two years, but he was too valuable,” she said.

As the newest board member, just finishing her second term, Chalfant said she relied on Dyer, whom she called a mentor.

Superintendent Rick Schulte called Dyer a child’s advocate.

“He has a passion for doing what’s right for kids in every respect,” Schulte said.

Dyer was the founding DARE officer in the schools, and started a parents’ contract, in which parents would pledge to supervise their children and not let them use drugs or alcohol at home.

Dyer said he will miss not seeing the high school remodel project through from idea to reality. Voters have yet to approve the $45 million construction bond.

Dyer was on the board for the remodel of six other district schools, and Chalfant said Dyer had one request for the high school project: “He wants his name on the plaque,” she said.

Supt. Schulte learned last week he had not been chosen to fill the vacant superintendent position in the Mukilteo School District. And that’s all right with him.

“I was impressed by the amount of support I received from many people in Oak Harbor,” he said. “That makes me feel better about staying here.”

Schulte said he was initially approached by search consultants from the Mukilteo School District and invited to apply for the position, which was vacated last October when Supt. Gary Toothaker was asked to resign. He has not applied for any other positions.

“My family enjoys Oak Harbor and we will not easily or readily leave,” he said. “I am sure I am going to stay in Oak Harbor for the 2003-04 school year.”

You can reach News-Times reporter Marcie Miller at mmiller@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611