The North Callaway R-I Board of Education has accepted the resignation of high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Curtis Bowling, effective at the end of this school year.
The board voted to accept Bowling's resignation during an executive closed session at the end of its regular board meeting March 20 - a meeting during which a slew of Bowling's students and their parents spoke up on his behalf.
"While the District cannot comment on specific personnel matters, the Board of Education's ultimate goal in education is to provide the highest quality educational experience to all District students," Superintendent Bryan Thomsen wrote in a statement to the Fulton Sun.
The district had 72 hours to release minutes from its closed session, and attempts to contact Bowling were unsuccessful until Tuesday.
Bowling, who has been with the district three years, said he did not want to comment on the situation leading up to the March 20 school board meeting or his reasons for resigning, but did say he is grateful for the support from his students.
"It was very reassuring to know I had that kind of support from them from the beginning," Bowling said.
No details regarding why Bowling's position with the district was in question were discussed during the March 20 meeting, but a large group of FFA members, parents and alumni were present, and a number of them stood up during public comments to sing Bowling's praises.