By Darrell Halen

One of the biggest proponents of a new high school in Pelham is leaving the School Board.

Michael Conrad, 42, will depart from the board in March, one year before his current term is to expire.

In his letter of resignation to School Board Chairman Bruce Couture, Conrad cited a new job, freelance writing work and the desire to spend more time with his family as reasons for stepping down.

“After many long discussions with my family, I have to do what is right for myself and my family,” he wrote.

Conrad was elected to the school board in 2003 and re-elected in 2006. During his tenure, he was a proponent of Pelham partnering with Windham to build a cooperative high school, a plan that was twice voted down in his town, and currently supports the construction of a new high school in Pelham.

Prior to joining the board, he served two years as president of Pelham Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Association.

He and his wife, Kathleen, have two children, Steven, 13, and Christina, 10.

“In the past five years, there’s been a lot of time taken from them,” Conrad said.

Conrad recently began working as a business development sales manager for HelloDirect, a developer and marketer of desktop telephony products in Nashua.

He also writes a column, “Gotta Have Gadgets,” for West Coast Golfer magazine.

“It’s harder and harder to find time to dedicate to School bBoard matters,” he said. “If I can’t give 100 percent, I’m not going to do it.”

By notifying the board that he’s stepping down in March, a one-year board position can be put on the school district ballot. Linda Mahoney’s seat is also up in 2008.

“Well, I think it’s too bad,” said School Board member Eleanor Burton about Conrad’s departure. “But with his work, he feels he can’t devote the time to it.”

Conrad said one of the things he liked most about his time on the board was starting the Board Buddies program with then-Superintendent Elaine Cutler. The buddies are students who shared stories about their school work with board members.

“That was the best part of the meetings,” he said.