Diaz resigns from DCPS board

CAMBRIDGE — Mike Diaz, president of the Board of Education of Dorchester County, has resigned his position, leaving three members on the five member board.

According to a Monday morning press release from Dorchester County Public Schools, Diaz cited health and family concerns as the reason behind his resignation, which was effective June 28.

In an interview Monday, Diaz said this was something he's been thinking about since getting sick in February. That month, he underwent a liver transplant.

"During that time I was recovering and thinking about leaving the board," he said. "But I also wanted to see through the new superintendent process and knew that would take a few months."

Diaz said that in May, he almost died after getting an infection.

“When you get a liver transplant, you have no immunity anymore, no immune system," he said. "And I got sick. ... Fortunately my wife found me passed out on the floor. The Dorchester County paramedics did a fantastic job, and I received great medical care. And I’m still here.”

Diaz said he wanted to make sure he left the board and the management of the board "in good hands and on good footing" before resigning, and he felt that had been accomplished when he resigned Friday.

Diaz' resignation comes on the heels of Board Vice President Susan Morgan's resignation in mid-June.

Morgan announced her resignation one day after a board meeting that made fractures in board member relationships apparent. At the meeting, Board Member Chris Wheedleton called out board leadership and said the culture of the board felt "divisive" rather than collaborative.

Diaz said his health was the only reason for his resignation.

"Every board or council or what have you has its moments," he said. "People trying to work together and find a common path. And (my resignation) has nothing to do with anything other than when I fell ill in February, I had a decision to make."

With neither a president nor vice president on the board, the board is planning to have a special meeting next week where an election for a president and vice president will be held, said DCPS communications and community outreach specialist Valerie Goff.

Although the board is currently down two members, the remaining three members make up the minimum number of members needed to hold a meeting, or a quorum.

The Dorchester County Council is in charge of making appointments to vacant Board of Education seats. Monday morning, Goff said the county had been made aware of Diaz's resignation. She said the district is waiting to hear how soon the county is planning to move and what it is planning to do.

Goff said she does not know where in the appointment process the council is for Morgan's seat.

“The important thing for Dorchester County Public Schools is focusing on the upcoming school year," Goff said. "These resignations will be dealt with by the county council, and we’ll await and hear from them. But we’re busy here getting ready to push out the next school year."

Before submitting their resignations, both Diaz and Morgan were running for reelection in District 1 and District 3, respectively.

Dorchester County Board of Elections Program Manager Kim Jones said Morgan has already withdrawn from the election and her name will not appear on the ballot for the general election in November.

Diaz, who received the second highest number of votes in his district in the May primary elections, has not decided if he will withdraw from the election. He said he doesn't know what the future holds and it is something he will have to discuss with his family.

If Diaz chooses to withdraw from the election, his name will also be removed from the ballot as long as he withdraws before the ballots are proofed in August, Jones said.

Diaz said he wishes nothing but the best to the board and recently appointed Superintendent Jymil Thompson.

“As with anything, I hope that (the board) stays aligned with the common goals that we have set forth," he said. "And that’s retaining teachers and providing good alternative education programs and school safety. ... Those are things that are going to make good school systems.”

This report may be updated.