A newly elected school board member in northwest Iowa has stepped down before attending a single meeting because he’s going to jail.
Sioux City Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman says Shaun Broyhill submitted his resignation Wednesday. “Mr. Broyhill indicated to us that he had some unresolved legal matters that needed attention…and that he would tender his resignation,” Gausman says.
An arrest warrant was issued against Broyhill earlier this year in Cedar County, Nebraska for a misdemeanor theft charge dating back to January of 2004. Broyhill told the Sioux City Journal that he’s stepping down because he has to serve 120 days in jail for failing to appear in court.
Broyhill was elected to the board September 10, finishing third to win one of three open seats. Gausman says the school board can appoint someone to temporarily fill Broyhill’s position on the board. “The law is clear that, if there is a vacancy, the board has 30 days to appoint a member to fill that vacancy or they will be required to have a special election,” Gausman says.
The Sioux City School Board has a meeting on Monday evening, and will discuss the matter at that time.
(reporting by Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City)