By DAVID ADAM
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
Quincy School Board President Melvin "Bud" Niekamp is asking Dennis Gorman, legal counsel for the school district, to prepare an explanation as to who had the authority to call a special meeting of the Quincy School Board at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and the legal justification for the meeting.
School Board members Glenn Bemis, Thomas Dickerson and Steven Krause called for the meeting on Monday after the announcement that Bemis has resigned as the board president, a position he held for less than two months.
Niekamp, who was the vice president, became president pro tempore upon Bemis' resignation. Board members told The Herald-Whig that they have no intention to elect a new president, and Superintendent Lonny Lemon said the agenda for the 5:30 p.m. meeting was designed to cover all contingencies.
Niekamp subsequently called for a special meeting of his own at 4 p.m. Thursday that, among other items, will discuss "the illegality of the agenda, and specifically the need for an election of officer(s) of the board, of the 5:30 p.m. meeting."
Section 2:220 of the Quincy School District 172 Policy Reference Manual spells out how a special meeting of the School Board is called. It reads:
"Special meetings may be called by the President or by any 3 members of the School Board by giving notice thereof, in writing, stating the time, place, and purpose of the meeting to remaining Board members by mail at least 48 hours before the meeting, or by personal service at least 24 hours before the meeting."
At 11:23 a.m. Wednesday, Niekamp e-mailed a letter to Gorman, a lawyer with the Quincy firm of Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu and Mitchell LLP, as well as Lemon, all School Board members and selected news media outlets.
He wrote:
"In my capacity as President, Pro Tempore, of the Board of Education of Quincy School District 172, I hereby direct you to prepare a position paper on the legal justification and authority for the Quincy School Board to conduct a Special Session and follow an Agenda, which calls for the Election of a School Board President and Vice-President, due to the resignation of Glenn Bemis as board president. Cite all relevant Illinois Statutes, School Law, Case Law, Board Policy & amp; Procedures, etc., that you are relying upon in this matter. This report will be made part of the official record of the proceedings of the Special Session meetings.
"Provide this written report to all School Board members by Thursday, 3 p.m., July 2, 2009, and be prepared to make an oral report during the open session of the Board meeting scheduled for 4 p m. You may use e-mail service to deliver the report to all Board members by 3 p.m., but also provide hard copies for the 4 p.m. meeting.
"As you know, I was not involved in any manner with the preparation of the Agenda for the Special Session scheduled for 5:30 on 7/2/09, nor did I see it prior to it being posted by School District employees.
"Please respond ASAP by return e-mail, confirming your receipt and compliance with this directive.
"Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter."
-- dadam@whig.com/221-3376
