{"id":9340,"date":"2014-07-14T14:59:56","date_gmt":"2014-07-14T18:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.southsidecentral.com\/wordpress\/?p=9340"},"modified":"2014-07-14T15:06:18","modified_gmt":"2014-07-14T19:06:18","slug":"merle-herndon-aint-goin-anywhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.southsidecentral.com\/wordpress\/2014\/07\/14\/merle-herndon-aint-goin-anywhere\/","title":{"rendered":"Merle Herndon Ain’t Goin’ Anywhere"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m halfway sorry to have to smack a vocal minority of Halifax County residents in the face with that headline.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You may remember that Halifax County Public Schools Superintendent Merle Herndon has been in the recent headlines for her decision to demote Halifax County High School principal Albert Randolph then her reversal of that decision after Randolph “apologized”.<\/p>\n

Well, some Halifax County residents don’t like her job performance, her decisions or simply her and want her to be fired from her job. They’re wrong.<\/p>\n

Here’s the latest development in those people’s efforts…<\/p>\n

Officials probing \u2018deposit\u2019 of sign<\/a><\/h4>\n

The signs along Herndon’s driving route are a perfect example of “free speech” and I’ve got no problem with people . That “free speech” ends when somebody goes to Herndon’s property with the obvious attempt to harass and intimidate her. The incident is rightfully being investigated by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office. There’s no special treatment by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office in investigating this incident because let’s face it… a crime was committed. Maybe not so much as the littering aspect, but once you add the “graffiti” that was disparaging to Herndon on it, it becomes at attempt at intimidation. That’s totally unacceptable and the wrong way for Herndon’s detractors to act. The entire anti-Herndon movement is smeared by the deeds on (hopefully just) one person.<\/p>\n

Former Halifax County school board member Joe Bailey has said that a high-ranking member of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office came to his house, but only spoke to his father. I’ve found out that the investigator did not mention why he was there and left his business card. Joe Bailey has been a vocal leader in the anti-Herndon movement and it’s only natural that an investigator would want to ask him questions about if he knew anybody that would possibly do this intimidation effort. I’ve also found out that WSET’s Heather Rosenbaum interviewed Joe Bailey today for a news story and it will be interesting to see what that’s all about.<\/p>\n

Now let’s get back to the headline… “Merle Herndon Ain’t Goin’ Anywhere”.<\/p>\n

Before I get started on that analysis, I want to make it clear that I haven’t agreed with everything that Herndon has ever done or the ways she’s done things. She’s not perfect and her decision have been quite abrasive to people at times. That being said, she’s doing a damn good job overall and I’ll tell you why she’s not going anywhere with the assistance of a Big Board.<\/p>\n