Richard Rykhus, the current vice-president of the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board of education, is expected to resign as of Wednesday , according to a notice posted on the school district’s website.
Juggling a full-time job and the needs of his family led Rykhus and his husband to make the “difficult choice” to step down from the board, he wrote in a statement sent to Pioneer Press from a school district liaison.
He said he would remain on the board for a special meeting scheduled for Tuesday in which school board members are expected to vote on whether or not to put a referendum on the April ballot asking taxpayers for $14.5 million.
Rykhus, who is also chairman of the school board’s finance committee, said that he returned to working full-time three years ago after working a reduced schedule. When he was reelected in 2015 to his second term on the school board, Rykhus reportedly worked at Chicago-based accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP.
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Now, though, he said his current job at Equity LifeStyles Properties, also headquartered in Chicago, requires him to travel regularly. According to the company’s website, Equity LifeStyles Properties operates manufactured home communities, RV resorts and campgrounds.
“Our son also has reached middle school and we see that he requires more support, not less, at this critical stage in his life,” the email stated. “I recognize I am less able to balance work, family, and the demands of the school board and serve at the level I expect of someone elected to this role so I intend to resign after Tuesday’s meeting.”
His term was set to expire April 2019.
Rykhus is the second elected official to resign from the District 65 board in recent months.
Jennifer Phillips quit in late August and board members chose Anya Tanyavutti to serve in her seat through the April election. Tanyavutti is campaigning this year to serve the last two years of Phillips’ term.
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 is now accepting applications to fill the vacancy Rykhus’ resignation will create.
Those interested in serving on the board for the remainder of Rykhus’ term may apply by Jan. 19, according to information on the school district’s website.
Whoever is appointed to fill the seat would have to run for election to the post in April 2019 to remain on the board.
Lee V. Gaines is a freelancer.