Harman and Pickens schools are not the Randolph County Board of Education’s problem.

The problem has been mismanagement.

Us outlying country people’s kids are becoming just a number, rather than growing up with the potential of being able to play sports, after-school curriculum and becoming a well-educated citizens, so they can be happy and able to keep themselves.

Hurray for Mr. Daniels on the BOE. He makes more sense than anything I’ve heard so far.

Your student numbers are down because parents are transferring their kids to other counties. I believe whatever county you live in is where your child should attend school. Stop this nonsense.

Tell me why bus drivers are driving buses two times a day back and forth to work. Look at the money in gas, tires and maintenance you would save. Stop this nonsense.

Why would you leave K-Fourth Grade at Harman? You still have to pay insurance, heating bills, teachers, cooks, janitor, maintenance and lawn care. You just need to leave K-12 grades intact.

Mr. Dilly wants a new school built. Let’s build it between Harman and Elkins, so everyone’s kids will be tired, stressed and misplaced. Stop this nonsense.

As for the weather, the winter in Harman is rough, and summer and fall, you pray to God that one of those 18-wheelers don’t run over you. They pass you anywhere and fly like an airplane. Stop this nonsense.

The best reality check is to keep the Elkins students in town. Close those schools that are in bad shape. Those students mostly live right there in town, and everyone’s children will be out of harm’s way.

The Harman School was refurbished in 2010 and is in very good shape. The faculty, cooks, janitor, bus driver and principal are proud workers of the system and they need their jobs.

This community is a fighter and will work hard to save Harman High School.

I do believe there is a solution to this problem and hope the board members will see a good outcome for the good of all children.

Maybe we need a 10% tax on all property, called the Randolph County School Rainy Day Fund to be used only for emergencies, and elect individuals from each school district to see how the money will be used and voted on. Ten percent won’t make or break you, and it will be fair to all residents in the county. If you’re a parent or grandparent, think about this.

If you close Harman and Pickens, you’re going to see a terrible decline in your education system. If you lose a child or bus driver’s life traveling this rough terrain, the blood will be on the ones’ hands that made that decision.

We pray that God will give you the knowledge to do the right thing. Really think about this!

L.M. Teter

Harman