Republic school board president resigns

Terry McConnell resigned as president of the Republic School District Board of Education less than a week after he was charged with domestic assault.

In a June 26 email to employees and families, the district said McConnell resigned “as a result of personal matters.”

McConnell, 45, of Republic, was charged June 20 with domestic assault, a misdemeanor. He entered a plea of not guilty, according to online court records, and a message left with attorney Matthew Russell was not returned by deadline.

According to court documents, McConnell allegedly shoved a female multiple times – causing her to fall and hit her back and forearm hard enough to leave bruises – after he woke her up and brandished a loaded handgun.

The court documents said McConnell admitted to a Greene County deputy that he was at fault. When McConnell was asked why he took the handgun out of the nightstand during an argument, he replied “stupidity,” according to the probable cause statement used to charge McConnell.

McConnell is scheduled to appear in court July 27 in Greene County.

First elected to the school board in 2023, McConnell was sworn in for a second three-year term this past April. Under state law, no election was required in 2026 because the district had the exact number of candidates and open seats.

Two months ago, the board appointed McConnell to serve as its president.

McConnell, a graduate of Republic High School, is a business owner in Republic.

Nikki Faith, director of communications for the district, said board member Lauren Layman will take over board leadership duties until a special reorganization meeting is scheduled to officially accept the resignation and elect board officers.

The board is also expected to discuss what to do with the open position. It may opt to seek applications and appoint a board member to fill McConnell’s spot until the April 2027 election.