Marc Schare might be a man of "great character" and "enormous integrity," but he is not qualified to be vice president of the Worthington Board of Education, according to board member Charlie Wilson.

Wilson made a 15-minute impassioned plea before the board on Jan. 11. He asked fellow board members to not elect Schare as vice president.

His plea fell on deaf ears: The remaining board members voted 4-1 to make Schare vice president. Julie Keegan was unanimously elected president for 2010.

Schare likely will become president next year, as the vice president from the previous year traditionally fills that position. That idea does not please Wilson, who heaped generous praise on Schare prior to criticizing him for allegedly not supporting board decisions, rejecting the offer of the Worthington Education Association to freeze the base salary next year and rejecting the most recent contract with the teachers' union, among other charges.

Wilson said that in 2006, Schare voted against a proposed levy and wrote a letter to the editor, stating why residents should vote against the levy. Such action, Wilson said, violated Schare's responsibility as a board member.

Last November, Schare voted to place the levy on the ballot, but on his Web page said his personal vote on the issue depended on the message of the campaign committee.

Wilson called that "a huge disservice to the people of Worthington."

Wilson said he also objected to Schare's recent letter to the editor, in which he wrote that some teachers are paid too much, others are paid just right, and some are paid too little.

"I'm concerned about the impact of that letter on teachers," Wilson said.

He also accused Schare of violating a board member's code of ethics by urging Sen. David Goodman (R-New Albany) to vote against a bill that Wilson said would have benefitted the district and other districts across the state.

"I'm not convinced Marc's greatest concern is the welfare of all public schoolchildren," Wilson said.

Outgoing board president David Bressman said he was disappointed with Wilson's comments, especially because Schare's family and friends were present to see him take office.

Bressman said he sometimes disagrees with Schare, but that does not mean he is not qualified to be board president.

"The comments you made tonight serve to divide this board," Bressman said. "I wish you had thought this out a little bit more."

Asked if he wanted to answer Wilson's accusations, Schare told ThisWeek that he chose not to at this time. Instead, he said, he is studying some of the factual information presented by Wilson and will rebut his comments during the next board meeting.

Schare made a brief prepared statement at the end of last week's meeting. He said it has been a privilege and honor to work with the board.

There is broad agreement in the district, he said, adding that on the few issues about which the board disagrees, debate has always been respectful and productive.

"I am so grateful for the continued opportunity to serve this community, and while 2010 may indeed be a time of renewal for our school district, the decade-long tradition of absolute excellence is something that will never change," Schare said.