BELMONT - The Shaker Regional School District is advertising for a new school board member because veteran school board member and current board chairman Preston Tuthill is stepping down.

Tuthill formally announced his departure to the district late last week. He said he was leaving for "family and personal reasons," according to Superintendent Maria Dreyer.

The timing of his resignation has forced the district to seek a candidate to appoint to finish the last year of Tuthill's term, rather than having a replacement elected.

"It came too late to give people enough time to file for the office, so we will have to appoint someone," Dreyer said.

Interviews will begin soon, Dreyer said. Since the position was advertised Monday, the district has already had at least one applicant.

Tuthill, who has been a board member for 11 years, said he will serve his term through to the March 8 annual school district meeting.

He said he is leaving because his family business, Keymont Construction of Belmont, is requiring more of his time.

"What with the recession and such, the demands on my time of work are too much for me to continue to serve," he said.

When asked about the board's accomplishments during his time, he said, "to me, it's just been a real pleasure to work with these people, and whatever accomplishments we had were due to everyone in the schools."

Dreyer, who is in her first year as superintendent, said she will especially miss Tuthill and retiring seven-year board member Diane O'Hara.

"We're losing our most senior board members, both of whom have been incredibly helpful to me," she said. "We are losing a wealth of knowledge about our school district."

dseufert@newstote.com