Residents wondering why Superintendent Dave Deragisch resigned left with that question unanswered Thursday after attending the special School Board meeting in Hills.

By roll-call vote, in a room packed with nearly 200 people, grim-faced board members unanimously accepted Deragisch’s resignation.

Meeting with constituents after the Feb. 2 meeting, H-BC School Board Chairman Gary Esselink said Deragisch resigned on his own, not as a result of a board request.

Acting as the board’s lone spokesman, Esselink faced tongue-lashings from some, words of encouragement from others and a tearful inquiry from one woman asking if the end of the district was at hand.

“This has not been an easy time to be a board member, “Esselink said, “But the reason you hang in there is because you believe in the school district.”

Another constituent asked when the whole story would be told.

“I know you’re not going to like my answer, but because of data privacy there isn’t much I can say,” Esselink said.

“I hope there will be a time as soon as possible that we can explain. We don’t want to say anything until we can say the right thing.”