Hesperia school Board Member Marcy Kittinger resigns amid family crisis
Hesperia Unified School District Board of Trustee Marcy Marie Kittinger tendered her resignation on Tuesday to take care of an ailing family member.
Kittinger announced her resignation “effective immediately” in her letter dated Feb. 15 to Ted Alejandre, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.
Kittinger gave no reason for her resignation in the letter, which was also sent to HUSD Superintendent David Olney and the school board.
HUSD Assistant Superintendent Robert McCollum on Wednesday confirmed with the Daily Press Kittinger’s resignation, which was based on “personal reasons.”
McCollum also added that the HUSD is in the process of determining the next step to fill the vacated position.
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Kittinger told the Daily Press on Wednesday that she resigned and moved to Hayden, Idaho, to take care of her 87-year-old mother, Aritta, who was severely injured after taking a fall.
According to Kittinger, her mother lives with her husband, Brian, and the couple’s son, Daniel, in a home the Kittingers purchased as they look toward retirement.
Located north of Coeur d'Alene, the City of Hayden boasts nearly 15,570 residents near Hayden Lake.
“We sold our house in Oak Hills in July 2020, and my husband moved to Idaho,” Kittinger, 62, said. “I rented a place in Oak Hills so I could remain here and continue serving on the board.”
During special occasions and holidays, Kittinger would visit her family in Idaho, and they would visit her in Hesperia, she said.
“I intended to finish out my term on the school board then move here with my family in November,” Kittinger said. “My mother’s injury sped up the process.”
On Tuesday, the district’s website showed Kittinger’s photo and information on her 2018 to 2022 term as a trustee representing HUSD Area 2.
Kittinger was a HUSD representative to the Tri-Agency Committee and director of the district’s Financing Corporation, the website showed.
During a reelection bid in 2018, Kittinger defeated her sole opponent, Anthony Riley, when she grabbed 67.77% or 4,549 votes, according to the SB County Registrar of Voters.
After unsuccessful election bids in 2010 and again in 2012, Kittinger was elected to the HUSD board in November 2014 when she was the top vote-getter with 21.8%, ahead of incumbent winners Eric Swanson and Nicole Childs.
“I ran for school board for the kids and for the ones who needed help getting into college,” Kittinger said. “I enjoyed my time serving on the board, but two terms is enough — any more time and you’re not overseeing, but managing and controlling, which is not our job.”
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Instagram @RenegadeReporter and Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Hesperia school Board Member Marcy Kittinger resigns amid family crisis
