Wawasee Board Member Resigns

SYRACUSE - Wawasee School Board is one member short.

Tuesday, board president Dallas Winchester announced that Jeff Wells submitted his letter of resignation. Wells served more than seven years on the board.

In a phone interview today, Wells said, "I resigned because I made a major error in judgment in March. ... In the position I was in, I felt it was appropriate to resign my position."

Wells was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.

"I really did enjoy being on the board. I felt we were making some headway," he said. And that was the tough part for him, he said, resigning while the school corporation was making that progress.

He said many of his friends and supporters told him that he shouldn't resign.

"I feel really bad about letting people down and not finishing my term."

But don't count him out. Wells said he will run again for the position in the general election this year and let the community decide if he deserves another chance.

"I just felt that getting arrested for that misdemeanor would give the current board some baggage to have to deal with," Wells said.

He did give the current board the option of not accepting his resignation if it was unanimous not to accept it. However, Wells said, one board member was uncomfortable with it, so Wells resigned.

If other good candidates run for the seat this fall, Wells said, he may choose not to run.

"I think we need to get more good people involved in helping our school corporation. There's too much apathy."

Applications for the position are being accepted now for the vacant at-large seat, Winchester said Tuesday at the meeting. The term ends at the end of this year and is up for re-election in November.

Applicants must live in Tippecanoe or Turkey Creek townships and should submit their name, address, contact information and a brief statement about their interest and experience to the board in care of superintendent Dr. Mark Stock at the Corporation Administration Office, 12659 N. Syracuse-Webster Road, Syracuse, IN 46567.

Board member Brian Dawes said the community owes Wells "a debt of thanks" for his time. Wells, he said, was instrumental in the new North Webster Elementary School building process.