Long-time Somerset County school board member calls it quits

Says 'Truth, trust and honesty' were lacking but offers no details

By Richard Crumbacker
Posted 3/3/21

WESTOVER — District 3 no longer has a representative on the Somerset County Board of Education after longtime member Robert T. “Bobby” Wells of Princess Anne resigned midway through …

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Long-time Somerset County school board member calls it quits

Says 'Truth, trust and honesty' were lacking but offers no details

Posted

WESTOVER — District 3 no longer has a representative on the Somerset County Board of Education after longtime member Robert T. “Bobby” Wells of Princess Anne resigned midway through his third term.

He was present at 4 p.m. for the organizational and closed part of the Feb. 16 board meeting but his chair was empty when the members returned at 6 p.m. following a break.

Mr. Wells said it was after the closed session that he asked to speak one on one with Superintendent Dr. John Gaddis and it was then when Mr. Wells expressed that he was stepping down.

Mr. Wells would not say what that conversation was about but last Friday said “Truth, trust and honesty are elements of a working relationship. If you don’t have all three of them, you don’t have a good working relationship.”

When asked who his remark was directed to or to explain further Mr. Wells said he would “just leave it at that.”

Mr. Wells was appointed to the board in September 2009 by Gov. Martin O’Malley following the death of Jack Willing Jr two months earlier. Mr. Wells was a Comcast Parent Involvement Matters honoree earlier that year for his school involvement and had twin daughters in the system, both graduating from Washington High School in 2017.

In 2010 Mr. Wells defeated Thomas Wilson to retain his seat and ran unopposed in 2014 and ’18. He had been a vice chair during part of his tenure, but an effort in January and February of this year by newly-elected member Caleb Shores (District 2) to have him promoted to chair failed and Penny Nicholson (District 1) retained the top spot. She was supported by Margo Green-Gale (District 5) and Troy Brittingham Jr. (District 4) who is now vice chair.

Mr. Wells said not being voted in as chair was not why he left the board.

“To me, it wasn’t there anymore,” being cautious with his words. He said as a board member who was a parent he sometimes saw things in a different light, adding that as an elected official he was responsible for taxpayer money, “and taxpayers’ children.”

With the advent of the coronavirus Mr. Wells said he thinks the school system did the best it could especially with the information and advisories available — sometimes changing during the course of a day.

“That was a challenge because we had to make some tough decisions,” he said. “We did our best...followed the guidelines,” especially with the introduction of technology because all of a sudden, students were forced to transition to a virtual way of learning.

He is pleased with the success of students that come through SCPS and pushes back on those who want to down the system. “Every program needs tweaking but we have successful students,” he said.

To the board members he leaves behind Mr. Wells said “God bless each one of you,” adding that he sees Mr. Shores as he was a dozen years ago. “That was me not quite 12 years ago, younger than me, but brand new.”

“Be up front, don’t be afraid to speak your mind, your feelings, thoughts, ideas, and remember that you’re doing this for kids and the community, not yourself,” was Mr. Wells’ advice. He has nobody in mind to complete his term which will be up before the voters next year.

Although he learned a lot, and met interesting people including former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King Jr. whose grandmother in 1894 was a graduate of what is now UMES, Mr. Wells is free from this obligation and will spend more family time. And, he also doesn’t plan to be involved in this sort of thing again.

“I’m done with politics, no more political aspirations,” he said.

Somerset County Public Schools spokeswoman Victoria Miele said by email that a letter of resignation to Superintendent Dr. John Gaddis was received on Feb. 24 stating Mr. Wells resigned “effective immediately” with a copy sent to Gov. Hogan.

It will be up to the governor to solicit candidates for his consideration through recommendations from the Central Committees.

“We thank Mr. Wells for his service to the community and our students,” Ms. Miele wrote on behalf of SCPS.

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