Dear Editor,

I am a native of Danville and a graduate of Danville High School. I coach middle school basketball and I am the assistant basketball coach for the high school team.  

My wife and I are parents to a 2017 Danville graduate and a current eighth-grader. I am a minority who spoke at the board meeting last week and I’m also a concerned citizen/taxpayer who cares about the Danville Schools.

I am frustrated with the complaint I read in The Advocate-Messenger, alleging several board members plotted against Dr. Look and violated open records laws. 

While I respect the right for these concerned citizens to voice their opinions, I also believe this is a distraction and an attempt to focus on negativity instead of healing. The majority of the board voted not to renew Dr. Look’s contract because they believed the district needed a new direction. Period. They did not fire him.

I personally know four of the five board members. I know EACH wants what is best for the Danville Schools. I know each labored over his/her decision. The hostility directed toward the majority of the board is uncivilized and unwarranted. If the decision was reversed, we would have accepted it and understood it was made with the board’s best intentions. 

The focus now should be our students’ education and finding the absolute best person to lead the district, not attacking the board.

It is time for ALL of us to unify for the good of the district. Otherwise, we are failing our children.

Demarco Prewitt

Danville