Houston County Board of Ed Chairman Steps Down

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Houston County Board of Education Chairman Tom Walmer announced he will be stepping down after 11 years of service.

Houston County’s Director of Community and School Affairs, Beth McLaughlin, said Walmer made the announcement at the Board of Education retreat over the weekend. According to McLaughlin, Walmer is currently a Flint Energies employee and is seeking other employment opportunities at this time. Flint Energies decided to close it’s appliance store, leaving Walmer without a job.

McLaughlin said at the end of the retreat Saturday, Walmer said he “needs to devote his time to his family and current situation.”

Walmer started serving as District 1 board representative in February 2002 and has been chairman since January 2009.

41NBC spoke with Walmer at a school board worksession Monday night.

“The majority of board members are retired–whether it’s here or other places,” says Walmer.  “The ones that aren’t retired own their own business and set their own schedule.  When I look at the other opportunities out there, I kind of doubt that I would be able to continue at this point and I think it was best to go ahead and make this change now and move forward.”

Walmer says one of his finest memories of being on the board wil be getting the Houston County Sharks up and running.  The Sharks are the county’s very successful sports programs for students with adaptive needs.

He says one of his most difficult times as a board member was going through the process of rezoning the county’s high schools.

Walmer’s last board meeting is Tuesday night.