Emotions ran deep Thursday night at the back-to-back special sessions of the Quincy School Board, where many people from a crowd of about 200 vented their frustration about whether president pro tempore Melvin “Bud” Niekamp should resign.

Niekamp, a School Board member since 1989, has been the center of a firestorm since Monday when he ascended to the presidency following the unexpected resignation of Glenn Bemis. Niekamp had been vice president.

Niekamp has refused to step down as president, although the sentiment of the majority of other School Board members is for Tom Dickerson to return to the seat. Dickerson was president before Bemis was elected to replace him in April.

Those who are pro-Niekamp cite his conservative approach and attempts to keep spending in line, which have often made him a lone wolf with his many “no” votes on board matters. The anti-Niekamp camp believes he is not qualified to lead the board.

“I may not have a college education, but I went to the school of hard knocks,” Niekamp said. “And I feel I have a lot of common sense.”

Niekamp’s seat on the board also is under fire. Local CPA and former School Board member Dennis Koch has officially begun the steps to challenge Niekamp’s seat on the School Board on the grounds that serving on both the School Board and Adams County Boar ...

Emotions ran deep Thursday night at the back-to-back special sessions of the Quincy School Board, where many people from a crowd of about 200 vented their frustration about whether president pro tempore Melvin “Bud” Niekamp should resign.

Niekamp, a School Board member since 1989, has been the center of a firestorm since Monday when he ascended to the presidency following the unexpected resignation of Glenn Bemis. Niekamp had been vice president.

Niekamp has refused to step down as president, although the sentiment of the majority of other School Board members is for Tom Dickerson to return to the seat. Dickerson was president before Bemis was elected to replace him in April.

Those who are pro-Niekamp cite his conservative approach and attempts to keep spending in line, which have often made him a lone wolf w ...