VIRGINIA -- The chairman of Virginia's school board has abruptly stepped down, saying personal reasons were behind his departure.

Dennis Hendricks submitted his resignation at a meeting Tuesday night.

"It was short notice," Virginia school superintendent Deron Stender told Dateline MN Tuesday afternoon.

The superintendent said Hendricks had served as chairman since January and has been the chairman before, but not in consecutive terms. He said the vice chairman, Tim Riordan, will step up in the interim as the school board reviews state law at its next meeting to figure out its next step in the wake of Hendricks' resignation. Stender said Hendricks works in management in one of the area's mines.

"He was a strong board member and will be greatly missed," the superintendent said.

Hendricks' resignation comes on the heels of Virginia's two-term mayor Steve Peterson stepping down. He leaves office effective Monday. He said he couldn't continue to serve as mayor and economic development director of the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board because the pressure of the dual jobs was too much to do both jobs well.