Dr. Harry Starr Gets Support From Parents

BY SUSAN DICKERSON
SALISBURY POST

Three parents spoke at Monday night's Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education meeting in support of

East Rowan High School Principal Dr. Harry Starr.

Harold Fisher took the seat in front of the microphone and told all seven board members: "Dr. Harry Starr is a find. ... The problems that they have on a daily basis, you could go anywhere and find those same problems."

The support comes after Vivian Hopkins, an activist from Gold Hill, began circulating a petition to remove principal Starr and assistant principals Ron Horton and Bettie Weant.

"If someone wants to go after the educators teaching my children, they're touching my children," Fisher said.

Fisher, a parent of two boys, one a graduate and one still in school, said the teachers at East Rowan High go out of their way to assist students.

Randy Elium, parent of two daughters, asked his children what they thought of their teachers. One of his daughters told him one teacher "was the sweetest lady in the world", another is always helping with math, even though that teacher no longer teaches his daughter, and another helps with writing research papers.

Elium also said he was disappointed in the Post for publishing negative stories about East Rowan High that "were blown out of proportion."

Bill Hallman, parent and Bible history teacher, said, "I've been very pleased with our administration. ... They handle tough problems every day. East Rowan High is very fortunate to have such great administrators and staff and the system's teacher of the year, Linda Merrell."

Hallman said East Rowan isn't the perfect school, but "in order to be the best, we need parents, community leaders and board members to work together as a team."

Starr said of the support at the meeting: "I'm glad at least some people spoke up positively. In today's society the vocal negative sometimes wins over the majority."