Last Thursday night was the first time I was truly ashamed of being from Miller County. On the other hand, I have never been any prouder of the love and support from the vast majority of those who took their time to try to get to the Miller County Board of Education meeting to support Elementary School Principal Kent Richardson.

With the ruling of the board attorney that the meeting of February 15 was illegal and the administrators were not hired, another meeting was called for February 22. That meeting was called by Chairman Leroy when he found out that BOE member, Terry Pickle, would be out of town with the youth at the State Hog Show in Perry. Pickle voted for Kent at the last meeting, along with BOE member Vicki Merritt. Chairman Bush got mad and wouldn't vote, and Sheila Phillips Freeman voted "no" to the motion. When the large crowd left, including Chairman Bush, everyone thought that all of the administrators were hired by a majority vote of 2-1 of those who voted. In America, a quorum with a majority vote used to be how we passed a motion.

In the called meeting that attorney Rentz ruled illegal, a sheet was passed around for public participation. This has been done at each meeting.

On the called meeting of February 22, the chairman had his instructions and followed them as he was told. I know how the people of Iraq might feel. It could have been in Russia during Communist rule. No one was allowed to speak during the meeting, except BOE member, Terry Pickle, who did come back, asked several questions which were answered by Rentz. They did their thing.

Everyone on the list was voted in except Principal Kent Richardson. This is the only principal that our schools have ever had to be designated by the State of Georgia and the Georgia Board of Education as a High Performance Principal. This is received when the school you are over for three years exceeds other state schools in educating our children.

The local BOE voted 2-2 to accept the recommendation of the Miller County School Superintendent on Principal Richardson.

One member stated their main agenda was to get rid of Kent Richardson and Robbie Phillips. It seems there might be another member with the same goal.

To date, there has been no reason for trying to get rid of this principal. Most of the people who know what is going on know the real reason. The same thing happened when the Miller County Board of Commissioners got three votes to two. We lost our certified clerk and certified fiscal officer. One vote change on either board could change everything, and everyone.

Other than the feelings a fine person gets for not being appreciated for doing an excellent job, Kent will find possibly a better position in his educational field. He loves the people, and especially the children in this county.

When we allow a faction of political power to vote out the best we have, we the people will be the losers. That will be bad, but the biggest losers are our children who will miss the type leadership and example that Kent and people like him give to our schools, our teachers and especially our children and grandchildren.

As all of this rotten politics continues to unfold, I thought of the movie, "Facing the Giants" that shows a Christian man with so many challenges. This was supposed to have been a true story that ended well when with hard work and faith, God seemed to intervene.

Movies can do that. Sometimes in real life, we the people must stand up for what is right and best in spite of power struggles, political cut-throat tactics and vendettas.

Something good has already come from this as several hundred citizens of this county have already seen that some members of this board care not what is right for our schools, or our people. Two members care less what anyone else thinks of them or their actions. They showed this by not allowing any public participation and not waiting until a full BOE is named. Five citizens in District Three have already stated that they would serve to represent their district so that over 800 voters might be represented.

Several state agencies have been contacted, and they are aware of what is going on in our county.

At best, our county and our school system will suffer from this power struggle on a board that not only taxes us the most, but affects the education of our youth. Members could well cost us the building of our new schools, or cost us considerably more taxes.

The only ones who might gain from this mess are the private schools who will get some of our students.

As one parent who is moving his/her children stated, "They (some members of the BOE) don't care what is best for our children, but I do."

Maybe God will intervene or He may expect us to do something. Pray for those who put power over the good of our children. Maybe He can change them. Pray for all of us to stand up for the right things to be done.