| Emotional Bemis explains he wrestled with 'highly personal' decision to resign as Board president for long time |
|
|
|
|
Former School Board president Glenn Bemis waits to address the public after President Pro Tempore Melvin "Bud" Niekamp refused to allow him to speak during the first of two Quincy School Board meetings on Thursday, July 2 at Baldwin School. Niekamp affirmed that only the public could speak at that time, so Bemis came from behind the table and said: "I'm the public." Niekamp then relented and Bemis returned to his seat before addressing the gallery. (H-W Photo/Philip Carlson)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles:
|
Published: 7/2/2009 | Updated: 7/10/2009
Glenn Bemis said there will likely be a time when he will talk publicly about why he resigned as president of the Quincy School Board.
That time is not now.
“It’s nothing cloak and dagger, or 007,” Bemis said. “It was just a highly personal decision ... I felt I had to step down.”
Bemis resigned unexpectedly Monday from a post he had held for less than two months. Former vice president Melvin “Bud” Niekamp assumed the presidency after Bemis resigned and saye he will not vacate the position, in spite of Bemis’ request to the School Board to support Thomas Dickerson being named president. Dickerson held the position for four years before Bemis was elected president in April.
Bemis publicly commented for the first time about his resignation in front of the board and a crowd of about 200 people Thursday night in the Baldwin School Round Room, site of back-to-back board meetings. One meeting was called by Niekamp, the other by fellow board members Bemis, Dickerson and Steve Krause.
“I certainly played a big part in why we’re all here,” he said.
In an emotional speech, Bemis said he was “not seeking any sort of sympathy” but wanted those in attendance to know it was a decision he had wrestled with for some time and one that was extremely private. He emphasized there is nothing wrong with his health.
The decision to retire was reached late last week. He informed Superintendent Lonny Lemon and a few, select close friends and board members, and Bemis praised them for keeping his announcement quiet until a Monday morning press release was issued.
“Not even my family knew about it (at first),” said Bemis.
He was quick to compliment Dickerson, who Bemis spoke with last week for the first time about resigning.
“Over the last couple of months, we haven’t exactly been golfing buddies or fishing buddies,” he said. “With his experience, personality, talent and integrity, I knew he would step in and proper procedures would be done. In a nanosecond, he said yes. That’s all it took for me.”
Bemis then went through the list of questions that Niekamp had e-mailed to school counsel Dennis Gorman earlier in the week about the circumstances around his resignation. He admitted that he did not call all board members about his decision, and he said he was the one who spearheaded the special meeting that was called for 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
He closed his remarks by saying, “Helping with the heavy lifting is one thing, but leading the troops is another.” Bemis embraced a member of the audience — James Carlock, a critic of the previous School Board and a family friend — to a round of applause.
Bemis said he is confident things will work themselves out.
“There is a process that has to be followed,” he said.
“I respect Bemis' decision (to step down),” Dickerson said. “He made it happen. Yes, we have to go through some struggles here … But ultimately, hopefully, we'll have a board that will be stronger down the road.”
Once he made the decision to resign, Bemis said he never had second thoughts.
“It feels like a lot of weight is lifted off,” Bemis said. “This will be old news before long, and I intend to be part of the good news.”
—seighinger@whig.com/221-3377
|
|
|
|
Most Viewed Stories
|
|
Most Emailed Stories
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to view or buy more photos from local events by Herald-Whig staff Photographers.
|
|
Click here for more news and views from Herald-Whig staff writers.
|
|
|
|
