Dennis Turowski, a North Bend School Board member of 11 years, has resigned from his seat for Zone No. 3.

Turowski, who represented the area north of the McCullough Bridge, was elected to his third term in 2003.

“It's actually something I've been thinking about for a long time,” Turowski said Tuesday. “I feel like the time is right for me. I haven't been able in the last year to put in the time I think this job deserves.”

Turowski has been a board member as the district was navigating enormous budget cuts and school closures, but Turowski said he felt the district had made it through admirably.

“We've gone through a rough patch financially, but we're coming out of that now,” he said. “I feel good about the way I've been able to contribute in my 11 years on the board. We've worked to do what the community feels is most important, which is maintaining programs and activities for students.”

Although he enjoyed his time on the School Board, Turowski said he felt the time had come for him to move on.

“It was my last year. And personally, I didn't see any critical issues coming up in this next year that I felt so passionate about I felt I should stay another year,” he said. “It was a tough decision for me, but I don't have the energy for the job that I had 11 years ago.”

Turowski said he feels good about leaving the district in a strong financial position. The budget for the 2006-07 fiscal year was the first budget in five years that hadn't called for significant cuts. He said he has been impressed again and again by the committed teachers, administrators and staff in the district, and has great confidence in the current board.

Despite all the years he spent working for North Bend schools, Turowski said there are some things he won't miss.

“I won't miss the meetings!” he said with a laugh. “But I will miss the people I've worked with I have great respect for the other board members. I'll miss them, and I'll miss the sense of contributing to the community.”

The board will feel Turowski's departure a great deal, said Carolyn Thompson, chairwoman of the School Board.

“After 11 years, he has certainly served our district in a phenomenal way, a marathon way,” Thompson said. “He's seen us through a lot of tough times and shrinkage with a great deal of resolution.”

Turowski said he was proud of helping to steer the district through a difficult period and the great relationship between the high school and Southwestern Oregon Community College.

“We made hard decisions, but I think we made some great choices,” he said. “Keeping North Bay Elementary open is really good thing, even though there are some disadvantages to having a school outside of town.”

Although he plans on volunteering again sometime in the future, Turowski said he'll choose hands-on activities rather than civic duties.

“Most of the things I've done over the years here have been related to my kids, and they're out of school now,” he said.

Thompson said she was concerned filling the vacancy for Turowski's position would be difficult, but he didn't seem worried.

“Certainly nobody is irreplaceable, me least of all,” he said.

In other business Monday night, the School Board discussed new security measures at the high school following a series of computer equipment thefts. While some of the bids from Gold Coast Security included wiring and installation of cameras, board members seemed to feel cameras wouldn't stop thefts.

“Up to this point it seems security is our biggest issue - not student misbehavior,” said board member Carol Salisbury. “The security seems to be the most important component to me.”

Thompson agreed.

“If our goal is to secure the district as a whole, I'd rather spend $30,000 to secure the windows and doors at the elementary school, middle school and high school, rather than just locking up the high school,” she said.

The board approved the lowest bid from Gold Coast to put motion sensors on the doors and windows around the library, science hall, freshman and senior halls at the high school, for $35,000 or less.