By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – A second Unit 5 school board member is resigning to take a job out of state.

Joseph Cleary was appointed to the board two years ago and elected to the post in April of last year. He’s accepted a job to teach construction management at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He was teaching at Illinois State University.

Board member Jim Hayek resigned this spring to take a job at State Farm’s Phoenix hub. Cleary said he and his family were in no rush to leave Unit 5.

“Unit 5 is still a great district. It’s a district of destination,” said Cleary.

“I think if I was going to live anywhere in Central Illinois, I would still live in this community and love to send my kids to Unit 5.”

“It just so happens that I was presented with a tremendous opportunity that checks all the boxes for me and my family out on the west coast, and so we’re taking advantage of that opportunity,” Cleary also said.

Board President Barry Hitchens said the school board will meet in closed session next Thursday to interview the four candidates to replace Hayek — Silas “Rex” Morrow, Melissa Engel, Alan Kalitzky, and Amy Roser.

Hitchens said the three who aren’t chosen next month will be in the running along with other applicants to replace Cleary. Both vacant seats will be up for election in April of next year.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]