Superintendent Candace Raskin’s last regular school board Monday was a bittersweet one: the administrator presented a three-year, competitive federal grant for alcohol abuse prevention awarded to the Austin Public School District in front of the people who drove her desire to resign.

The district was recently notified it will receive the U.S. Department of Education Grant to Reduce Alcohol Abuse, one of about 70 in the nation. Austin will likely receive at least $232,000 per year for preventative efforts.

Raskin, who will leave the district June 30 for a professorship with Minnesota State University, Mankato, said it has been a “privilege to work in this district and community.

“I feel great pride in the students, staff and the academic position Austin Public Schools is in,” said Raskin, evidently emotional during the course of the meeting.

Sue Register, a parent and officer with the VFW, commended Raskin for her work with veterans issues.

“I want you to know how thankful we are veterans are,” she said through tears, citing activities in the schools like the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen. “We have more support in our district than any other post in Minnesota.”

Register said Raskin will be receiving a citation from the state VFW for her efforts.

Raskin’s problematic relationship with a few school board members, including Curt Rude and Richard Lees, was evident until the end, when they questioned and declined to approve the termination of a long-term substitute teacher and probationary school psychologist.

“It’s now your legacy,” Raskin told the board members of the district, “because mine’s in really great shape.”

The school board has hired a search consultant to find an interm superintendent, who they said would serve one year. A permanant replacement is planned for hire in January 2009 and a start date later in July.