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The Clark County Public Schools (CCPSS) Board of Education accepted its second and third resignations of the year during its monthly meeting Tuesday evening.

Board chair Megan Hendricks and vice-chair Sherry Richardson followed in the footsteps of former board member Brenda Considine who abruptly resigned without explanation in July.

Hendricks submitted her resignation earlier in the month because she and her family have bought a home outside of her district, the 3rd, and wanted to give the board time to find a new member with so many important decisions looming.

In a written statement, she reflected on her time in office and had some words to share with the community.

I am thankful for my time on the Clark County Board of Education. I feel we were able to accomplish a lot, and I am excited about the future of the district,” Hendricks wrote. “I encourage everyone to pay attention to your board. A meeting should not run for hours on end, board members should have respect for one another both in meetings and public forums, and the focus should remain on doing right by kids. The board should not involve politics, personal motives, agendas or be a public spectacle. Unfortunately, as a result of moving, I can no longer serve on the board, but I wish our superintendent and our school district continued success.”

Hendricks was elected in 2022 and was in the middle of her first term, which expires in Dec. 2024.

Richardson’s resignation was a surprise as she was recently reelected to a new four-year term from District 4 earlier this month.

She did say in a statement sent to the Sun that work demands, and a growing extended family factored into her decision.

I have enjoyed serving the students of Clark County and have had the opportunity to make lifelong friends. I am blessed to have been a part of hiring Mr. Dustin Howard, who is an amazing superintendent and is already doing great things in our district. I wish him, and the board continued success,” Richardson wrote. “New job interest have imposed longer hours and takes time away from the board that it deserves. I’m also going to be a grandmother again and looking forward to spending more time with my family. Best wishes to Clark County [Public] Schools.”

In the absence of Hendricks, the remaining board members elected Bill Taulbee as the new chair.

Taulbee sounded optimistic when asked to comment on the resignations.

“I feel for the first time in a very long time that the Board can focus solely on what’s best for our students and staff in our district. I can say with the utmost confidence that we are working on the same page working together for Clark County,” he said.

Superintendent Howard had kind words for the departed board members.

“People don’t understand what a big responsibility when you allocate your most precious resource in the world, your time, and being a person who would allocate time to serve us and some sometimes what is thankless work…I thank them for their time, energy, and efforts,” he said.

What happens now?

Per Kentucky law, the board now has 60 days as of Tuesday to appoint replacements for Hendricks and Richardson with a majority vote.

First, the board must advertise for applications within 30 days of the vacancy.

If it cannot reach a consensus, it can ask the Kentucky Department of Education to step in and make the appointment.