Seaside School District Board of Directors President Steve Phillips submitted his letter of resignation at a special board meeting at the district office Thursday, Feb. 7.

Phillips steps down in the aftermath of a settlement with the Oregon Department of Justice. The state alleged Phillips and his wife Dana conducted unlawful trade practices in conjunction with their roles with the Miss Oregon Scholarship Program and Oregon Scholarship Foundation. The Phillips’ agreed to pay $150,000 to the Oregon Community Foundation for the Tiffany Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund, named for the couple’s 17-year-old daughter, who died in a 1998 car accident.

“Please accept my resignation from the board of directors effective Monday, Feb. 4,” Steve Phillips wrote superintendent Sheila Roley and the board. “I wish everyone well in the future and know that I will always be a true supporter of the Seaside School District.”

The board unanimously accepted the resignation.

Vice-chairman Mark Truax, who conducted the meeting, praised Phillips’ 24 years as a school board member. “Steve has given everything,” Truax said. “It’s about kids, from day one. His talents will be greatly missed.”

Roley thanked Phillips for “his support, guidance and mentorship in this position. We’ll really miss him.”

Phillips represented Zone 5, Position 1 in Seaside, and leaves a second unfilled board seat. Patrick Nofield, who vacates one of two positions representing Cannon Beach, stepped down in January.

The district will appoint replacements for both positions, Roley said. The seats will then be up for election in May, along with that of vice-chairman Truax, who conducted Thursday’s meeting.

The district also approved a time frame to look for an assistant superintendent. Candidates will be selected by board members for interviews next week. The position is anticipated to succeed as superintendent after Roley’s retirement.

An offer of employment for the selected assistant superintendent candidate is expected on March 8.