Open letter to the members of the Randolph County Board of Education:

Members of the Randolph County Board of Education. Residents of Harman and Pickens are humbled and encouraged by the profound support for our children and communities.

We do not gloat over the decision made to keep our schools open, we are grateful. Many of us concluded that we had done all we could, and the rest was in God’s hands.

Members of the Board of Education have our deepest respect and appreciation for being willing to publicly support our rural schools and communities. Thank you!

We are also most appreciative of you who have shown your support for the rural communities. Many of you expressed that you could not do so publicly but your support was noticed and appreciated, nonetheless.

The Randolph County school administration has a lot of work to do to regain the trust and respect of the rural communities. We are forgiving people, but we are not gullible. The challenge for administration now is to seek to unite diverse communities and move our entire county forward.

In a day when pronouns are emphasized, it is time to speak in terms of “we and us” as opposed to “they and them.” The children in our rural communities observed an important lesson in seeing their parents and grandparents fight for what we believe in. However, all of us can learn a valuable life lesson by seeing respectful give and take, compromise and mutual sacrifice.

I have previously stated that you should not underestimate the love we have for our children and the tenacity with which we will fight for their wellbeing. We are committed to applying that same level of effort and resolve in working together to solve the financial and academic challenges facing our county’s school system. Think of all the good that can happen!

Dr. Dilly, are you ready, willing and able to lead us?

May God bless all of Randolph County!

Dan Bucher

Harman