Consensus became contention at the Worthington school board's organizational meeting this week as one board member stated publicly why another board member did not deserve a vice president position.

Board member Julie Keegan's election as the new president of the board was unanimous at the board meeting Monday, Jan. 11, at the Worthington Education Center.

Keegan held the vice president position last year, and the Worthington school board typically has slid the vice president into the presidential spot each year.

Electing this year's vice president was a different story.

Board member Charlie Wilson objected to the nomination of fellow board member Marc Share and stated why he would vote "no" for Schare's election to the vice president position.

Wilson read an Ohio School Board Association definition of a "good school board member" that stated a board member has a responsibility "to support a decision when it is made."

"I am not convinced Marc embraces the concept that it is his legal obligation to support the board once they have decided on an issue," Wilson said.

Wilson said Schare had voted against putting the 2006 operating levy on the ballot -- which Wilson said was Schare's right -- but that "10 days after the vote to put that levy on the ballot, in my opinion, Marc openly violated his responsibility to support the decision by arguing against the public passage of the levy.

"For the 2009 levy, his behavior was even more disappointing, in my opinion," Wilson said. "He said on his Web site his vote for or against the levy 'was up for grabs' and announced he would support the levy only if he agreed with the campaign language and the way the campaign was conducted. So he was announcing he would support the levy only if his demands were met."

Wilson said if Schare were elected vice president of the board, he would likely end up in the leadership position of president because of the board's past election practices.

"In my opinion, moving Marc into a leadership position would be a disservice to the district," Wilson said.

Wilson also said Schare had published a letter to the editor about Worthington teachers "being paid too much, too little and some just the right amount.

"I am concerned that he claimed some of the teachers may not be earning their salaries," Wilson said.

Wilson went on to say, "I believe Marc is an outstanding human being and I have enormous respect for Marc as a person.

"I also want to say this is not a divided board; we've always been able to disagree without being disagreeable," Wilson said.

David Bressman, last year's board president, said he was "very disappointed" about Wilson's comments.

"I find your comments disheartening," Bressman said. "You say this board isn't divided, but comments like that can serve to divide it.

"Lord knows Marc and I have had hard conversations over the last eight years, but I am very disappointed that what should have been a happy occasion, with many of Marc's family here to see him elected vice president, has turned into this kind of scene," he said.

Board member Jennifer Best agreed with Bressman.

"Marc has attended many more school functions than most of us and I believe he is always acting in the best interest of the students and the public," she said.

Schare didn't comment on Wilson's words before Keegan asked for a vote. Wilson was the only board member to cast a "no" vote for Schare.

Schare made one comment at the end of the meeting.

"January is a time for renewal, and it has been my privilege and honor to work with each of you," Schare said. "Our discussion and debate has always been respectful and you can't ask for more than that."

The next regular board meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Worthington Education Center, 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road.