St. Mark’s Lutheran Home administrator Christine Harris will resign by the end of the month.

Though the home has been the focal point of recent controversy, Harris is retiring because of personal reasons stemming from her family, according to Board President Marty Helle.

“They were personal reasons that had to do with her family and nothing due to with St. Mark’s,” he said.

St. Mark’s has been shrouded in controversy in the last few months, as the St. Mark’s Family Council has been discussing concerns stemming from state and federal reports about the home’s quality ratings.

Many people criticized Harris at a June 29 public meeting at St. Mark’s that focused on the home’s quality concerns — a meeting Harris did not attend.

However, Helle said the complaints and concerns about St. Mark’s had nothing to do with Harris’ decision to retire.

“I completely support her decision,” he added.

Helle said Harris will be missed.

“I’m really sad to see Christine go,” he said.

Harris will work through most of August, as an interim administrator takes the reins. Ecumen, St. Mark’s managing firm, has already selected an interim administrator, who is likely to lead St. Mark’s for about three months.

Helle and the rest of the board of directors will select a new administrator from a pool of candidates likely to be chosen by Ecumen.

“It’s a joint decision between us and Ecumen,” Helle said.

Helle said it will take about three to four months to make a final decision. Harris was previously the interim administrator at St. Mark’s before being hired more than three years ago.

The new administrator will oversee the final stages of a construction project at St. Mark’s. The home is in the early stages of a project to a decrease the number of skilled care beds from around 100 to about 70. It’s expected to dip to the low 60s before a more memory care units and assisted living facilities are built.

Despite the upcoming construction, Helle said it’s actually a good time for a new administrator to take over, since the bulk of the project’s planning is complete. In fact, Helle said St. Mark’s is a good sized home with good pay that will be a good chance for the new administrator.

“I think it’s a pretty good opportunity, actually,” Helle said.