The chair of the Vancouver School Board has resigned, citing "deeply personal" and private reasons.
Christopher Richardson, a chartered accountant elected to the school board last November, said in an interview late Monday night that he will remain a VSB trustee but that it is in the best interest of the school board to give up his position as chair.
He said it is neither due to health reasons – "I will likely do the Grouse Grind tomorrow," he said, referring to the popular B.C. hiking trail sometimes referred to as "Mother nature's Stairmaster" – nor the recent audit commissioned by the provincial government recommending the closure of at least 19 schools for financial reasons.
"It was looking at what is best for the board as it moves forward, positively," Mr. Richardson said. "I felt this was the right thing to do."
Mr. Richardson said he had mulled the idea over on the weekend. At a private meeting Monday morning he handed each trustee his letter of resignation; at a public meeting that night he announced the move officially.
Mr. Richardson described it as an "emotional goodbye – far more emotional than I expected it to be."
He noted that resigning from his position of chair will allow more time for him to pursue initiatives he wouldn't have otherwise had time for.
Vice-chairperson Janet Fraser will assume the role of interim chair. The board will elect a new chair on June 24.
Andrea Woo