“Job Well Done: Niemeier retiring from NAHS Friday after 26 years” |
| Job Well Done: Niemeier retiring from NAHS Friday after 26 years Posted: 28 Dec 2010 07:17 PM PST FLOYD COUNTY — It's Monday morning at New Albany High School. The students and teachers are home, sleeping in and enjoying the remaining days of Christmas vacation. But not Vernon Niemeier. He is busy scraping snow off of mini-buses sitting in an empty parking lot, getting them ready for travel. He is doing this the same week that will also be his last at the school. He is retiring Friday. Niemeier has been the school's safety and transportation liaison since 1984. But he has been much more than that. He has assisted New Albany's athletic department, been a volunteer chef at sporting events and teacher in-service days, and been a friend and counselor to all. "It's really hard to measure how valuable he has been to that school," said former New Albany High School Principal Steve Sipes. "He has been invaluable." Niemeier, 67, said it's time to take a step back. After working with kids and the public for 46 years — beginning as a New Albany Police officer at age 21 — he said he is ready to travel with his wife, Polly, spend time on his boat on Lake Cumberland and enjoy his grandson, Alton Joseph Niemeier, who will soon be 8 weeks old. He said he was asked to stay until the end of the school year, but had already made his mind up that Dec. 31 would be his last day. "It's time," he said. "Janet Page [NAHS principal] asked me to stay, but I had already set the time that I was going to leave before she was named principal. She is doing a good job there, and if she needs me to come back, I will be glad to help. If I can help her, I will." Many adults walking the streets in Floyd County today remember Niemeier as Officer Friendly. He visited every elementary school beginning in 1971 and hosted a summer picnic each year for the kids. He also began the ride-along program, where an elementary student would spend the day with him in his police cruiser. He also was involved in building Safety Town at the entrance to Community Park as well as a BMX track in the city. He said he always wanted to have a positive affect on youth in everything that he did. "I wanted kids to see police officers in a positive way. Many associated officers with coming into the house to arrest mom and dad," he said. "And we always talked safety with kids. I enjoyed my 45 years working with youth." Niemeier retired from the NAPD after 20 years of service. He was only 41 years old, and said he was too young to sit at home. That is when former NA-FC Superintendent Ed Adams asked him if he would be interested in serving as a safety officer for the school corporation. After hesitating at first, he decided to take the job in 1984. He has been there ever since. However, he has never been one to leave work, go home and relax. Niemeier has always been involved in the community. He served 16 years on the city council, was Harvest Homecoming president in 1980, served on numerous boards and won many awards, including the 2009 NA-FC School Corp. Support Employee of the Year. He said he always wanted to make a difference. He has done just that. "He did so much for the school. He was really the forerunner for our school resource officers," Sipes said. "He would provide security outside and inside the building, he would run kids home or to Prosser and he had a great rapport with the staff. He filled 1,000 different roles for our school. He has helped many, many kids through the years." Niemeier said he not only kept an eye out on the parking lot, but also roamed the neighborhood surrounding the school making sure people were safe. He said he also enjoyed talking to the students about everything — and providing a positive influence on their lives. "When you see a kid walk down the aisle and graduate, who you know had problems, and he puts his hands on your shoulder and says thank you, that makes it all worth it," he said. "I just always enjoyed talking to kids. They may not have the respect [for adults] that they used to have, but you have to build that respect. That is what I try to do." Niemeier said he will still volunteer with the athletic department. "I have a lot of respect for Donnie Unruh [NAHS athletic director] and I think sports do a lot of good things for young people." Unruh said Niemeier not only helped his department, but the entire school. "He has helped in so many ways," Unruh said. "If it needed to be done at school, and if it helped other people, Vernon would do it. His absence will most definitely be felt by the entire school. He was always someone kids felt comfortable talking to." Niemeier said he is looking forward to driving Lee Kelly and the WNAS radio crew to Evansville Harrison tonight, maybe for the last time. But he said it's time to take a break. He has been asked to get back into politics, but he said "no thanks." At 67, he is ready to spoil his grandson and enjoy life. In recent years, he has had both knees and both hips replaced, and he said he is feeling great. "I am artificial," he said with a laugh, referring to his knees and hips. But to those who know him, there is nothing artificial about Vernon Niemeier. "When I got the job as assistant principal in 1986, I was in charge of student development ... discipline. I didn't know what I was getting into," Sipes said. "Vernon helped me with what I needed to know when questioning kids. He helped me tremendously. I don't know if I would have made it without Vernon being around. He is a multitalented individual and I know he will be missed." 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