Dan Smith, a 10-year veteran of the Southwestern Oregon Community College Board of Education, announced his resignation earlier this week.

Smith's decision became official Monday when the board accepted his resignation at its regular monthly meeting. In a July 20 letter to board Chairwoman Marcia Jensen, Smith asked that his resignation take effect Aug. 31.

"This was not a surprise to anyone," Smith said Wednesday. "I think it's time for some new blood, some new ideas."

About one year ago, Smith informed the other six members of the board he intended to resign after the board seated a new college president. In March, Judith Hansen accepted an offer to become the college's fifth president. For the last 15 years, the college was led by Stephen Kridelbaugh. He retired July 1.

"Ten years was a good long tenure," Smith wrote, adding that his "work commitments and other community involvements were demanding more and more of [his] time."

The 57-year-old also is the president and CEO of Bay Area Hospital and has spearheaded numerous efforts to link the medical expertise at the hospital with programs at the community college. Smith also is an Oregon International Port of Coos Bay commissioner - a seat he intends to keep.

For Southwestern, Smith said that he was most proud of "always keeping the students first," helping establish new programs and buildings for the school without taxation, and being involved in the start-up of the college's extension school in Curry County.

"I think, actually, in spite of all our state budget woes, the college has managed to remain stable financially," Smith said.

He ran unopposed in each of the three school board elections over the last decade. He said he decided to run for office when one of his children expressed an interest in attending Southwestern.

Jensen said that Smith will be greatly missed.

"We are so disappointed - but we understand completely why he has resigned. He's been an integral part of the college," Jensen said.

She called Smith's contributions altruistic and appreciated his efforts to bring the college and the hospital together, singling out a surgical technician nursing and a pharmacy technician program - both of which, she said, generated "homegrown" occupations.

"Anything that has to do with medicine, Dan has promoted at the college," Jensen said.

Sheldon Meyer, the college's dean of administrative services, said with Smith's guidance, the college was able to add a nursing instructor, which greatly reduced the student-teacher ratio.

Board Secretary Deb Nicholls said the college soon will be taking applications for Smith's replacement. Whomever is selected for the position will serve the remainder of Smith's term that ends June 30, 2007.

Interested candidates must reside within the community college's district that includes Coos, Curry and western Douglas counties.