Community Consolidated School District 15 board member Sue Quinn will not seek another term.

"It's been a great privilege to serve the community for these past four years," Quinn said. "The time has come for me to focus on my family."

Monday, Dec. 13 was the first day for candidates to file for the school board. Two incumbents – school board president Gerald Chapman and board member James Ekeberg – did so. Also filing were newcomers Scott Herr and Manjula Sriram. The last day election petitions can be filed is Dec. 20.

In all, three seats will be up in the April 5 election.

Quinn said the decision not to run was a personal one. Among the factors was her writing career.

"My writing career is starting to take off and I need to focus on that," she said. Quinn recently had her first book published, the young adult novel "Life, Liberty and Pursuit." "Writing takes time." 

Quinn has been an outspoken member of the school board. She has openly called for the defeat of Chapman. Quinn circulated election petitions for Herr and Sriram and said she was confident the school board would be in good hands.

"I think there have been ups and downs all along on the board," Quinn said.

Several issues have highlighted some of the divisions on the board. Quinn was a vocal critic of plans to issue more than $27 million in working cash bonds— the bulk of which would have been used for capital improvements. Critics of the bond issue said the district's plans for the money were unclear.

Residents mounted a petition drive, forcing the bond issue to a referendum where it was defeated by a more than 2-to-1 margin. In the midst of the controversy, District 15 Superintendent Daniel Lukich abruptly resigned.

Even after the election, tensions among some board members remained. Quinn had called into question the district's process for compiling meeting minutes and alleged Chapman had attempted to spin past minutes related to a motion Quinn made on the bond issue.

The school board recently voted to have the district's attorney look into the matter. Quinn did not support the move, saying that it was a board issue, not a legal one.

"I don't view myself as a lightning rod," Quinn said. "I know there are people out there who do not always agree with what I have to say."

Quinn said she had tried to give a voice to parents and other members of the community. She said she was proud of that and of her attempts to encourage transparency within the school district.

For example, Quinn supported the creation of an annual district financial report card to help residents better understand the state of district finances.

Quinn said her primary goal has been to help young people, something she said will not change.

"There are lots of ways that you can have a positive influence on young people," Quinn said.