WAUCONDA – It’s only been 13 months – certainly less than he had originally intended – but Gary Midkiff has resigned from his duties as a Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 board member.

Midkiff, who successfully campaigned for his seat in April last year, will be moving to Buffalo Grove with his wife, Carol, at the end of the month.

District 118 policy mandates that board members reside within the district they serve, Midkiff said. Once it became clear that he and his wife would be moving, he was forced to give up his seat.

“It’s frustrating, but we went over the rules and details with [District 118 Superintendent] Dr. [Dan] Coles,” Midkiff said.

The Midkiff’s son, Max, a junior at Wauconda High School, will move in with close friends in order to finish his athletic and academic career at WHS, Midkiff said.

The school board will have to appoint someone to fill Midkiff’s seat by Sunday, June 13, which is within 45 days of Midkiff’s resignation, Coles said.

The appointed board member will serve until the next board of education election, which will take place April 5, 2011, Coles said. The position then will be up for election as a two-year term.

Midkiff said he was disappointed to resign, but learned a few valuable lessons during his 13-month term.

“The things I’ve taken away [from being on the board] are a better appreciation of the state funding problems,” Midkiff said. “To see it take place in our budget was painful, and it was much worse than I had anticipated.”

“The second thing [I noticed] was the caring nature of District 118 officials and teachers was stronger than I had anticipated,” he continued.

Midkiff, who is a college professor at several institutions including the College of Lake County, said he will continue to keep busy by working with nonprofit organizations.

“There will be plenty of ways to give back to the community, just not through the school board,” he said.

School officials said they soon will release information regarding how district residents can apply to fill the vacant seat.