Letter to the Editor–School Board Meeting Monday Night!!! Letter to the Editor Provided by Marge Hooper Forwarded by Robert A. Williams

Letter to the Editor:

The Room was filled to capacity at the School Board Meeting held June 8 in Shelby. Seniors, the Shelby High School Class President, Parents, a County Commissioner, Joel Shores and Rodney Fitch, Candidates running to replace the tyrannical School Board members and concerned citizens as well as School Board Member, Danny Blanton came to speak out for the Class of 2020. They all pleaded with the heartless School Board to allow the Class of 2020 to walk across a stage and receive their hard-earned diplomas.

One very astute spokesperson handed each member of the Board a copy of Gov. Coopers’ Executive Order No. 138 pertaining to School Graduation Ceremonies: “Local School leaders are encouraged to engage with Students and families to identify the solutions for their communities”. This NEVER happened. Not one single person present was ever contact by Mr. Fisher. Danny Blanton on the other hand has been in support of the Senior Class of 2020 to receive their diplomas, a culmination of 13 years of their lives with all their friends and families to witness this auspicious occasion. The Seniors DO NOT want to receive their diplomas in a drive-thru fashion, (I’ll take a large coke with that order). The School Board’s decision was made without any input from any parent or Senior.

This same spokesperson has spoken with and has the support of the North Carolina State Legislator Speaker of the House, Tim Moore, our State Senator, as well as the Cleveland County Commissioners to allow the Class of 2020 to receive their diplomas in a tradition graduation ceremony. The School Board made their decision based on THEIR interpretation of Gov. Cooper’s Executive Order. Our spokesperson showed photos of Graduation Ceremonies being held outdoors, Seniors spaced 10 feet apart in the following School Districts: Pitt County School Districts in Greenville, North Carolina; Currituck High School which will hold their Graduation Ceremonies on June 11 in Knights Stadium ; and Union County will hold their Graduation Ceremonies in their Stadium, the date yet to be announced.

One mother spoke of the sheer driving force for her to survive her open-heart surgery this year was to be able to see her son walk across the stage to receive his diploma. Parents offered to sign waivers, releasing the School from any untoward after affects resulting from gathering for a traditional graduation.

Within the handouts that were given to the School Board, a photo of Gov. Roy Cooper was included; marching with Protesters, Rioters and Looters in Raleigh, with his mask hanging off one ear. This was AFTER he vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have allowed restaurants and bars to reopen at 50% capacity OUTSIDE. “SHUT UP, DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO.” The real clincher was the photo that was passed around taken of the Mr. Fisher’s party at his house the first weekend of June, with over 150 people in attendance. Not a single person in the photo is wearing a mask and everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder. Once again: “SHUT UP, DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO”.

Danny Blanton made the motion to give the Class of 2020 a traditional graduation ceremony. NOT ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WOULD SECOND THE MOTION!!!! We will remember this, and the Seniors that will be 18 and able to vote, will remember this in November.

What would you call such action where people who have power, such little power as to overrule a Graduation Ceremony, and they lord that power over the powerless? Tyrannical? Actions have consequences. And the Parents, the Seniors and the Concerned Citizens that were present at this meeting and more will remember this come November.

Marjorie J. Hooper
A Concerned Citizen

Editor’s Note:
Marge Hooper is a former President of the Women Republicans of Cleveland County (WeRCC-pronounced WE-Rock).