The Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education may soon be one member short.

After serving on the board for more than two years, Fred Cornelius is resigning his seat effective Jan. 31. The resignation is on the agenda for Tuesday's board meeting.

Cornelius said he is close to purchasing a house within the Union Springs Central School District, an action that would bar him from sitting on the board.

Though up for re-election this May, Cornelius said he is no longer able to devote his full attention to the board, the district and its students.

“The time to buy and sell a house is putting a cramp on my ability to perform at the level I want to for the board,” he said.

The board will vote on the resignation and also discuss options on what to do with the vacant seat, President Charlie Cator said.

From what he understands, the board can fill the seat through a special election or appointment, establish a committee to gauge interest or leave the seat vacant until the May election.

Cator said he wanted to get clarification on the options and discuss them with the board before making a recommendation.

“I'd like to see what everyone else has to say,” he said.

Cornelius, who was elected to his first term on the board in 2006, said he is pleased with the progress the district has made in the last several years

“I think we've done a great job at hiring staff,” he said, noting the hiring of J.D. Pabis as superintendent and Jeff Pirozzolo as assistant superintendent of personnel as two good choices for the district.

“I think there have been many struggles at the high school and now we have good leadership there and that's going to move things in the right direction.

Cornelius expressed regret over the failed 2008-09 proposed school budget, which voters twice rejected last spring.

“I was disappointed the budget didn't pass,” he said, “but those things happen.”