Walker County school board defers superintendent decision amid outcry from Raines supporters

Walker County superintendent Damon Raines reciving a standing ovation and a hug before a special called meeting by the Walker County School Board about his future.

LaFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF)- Controversy ignited inside of the Walker County School board room Friday.

Hundreds of residents, teachers, and students came out in support of a long time administrator potentially faced with his removal.

Superintendent Damon Raines, who has held for 12 years, was on the hot seat when allegedly a couple of board members wanted to remove him from his post.

However, hundreds voiced their disapproval of that proposal, leaving the future in limbo.

The support from the moment we arrived at the Walker County Board of Education was palpable, as numerous prayers were said by the hundreds that attended both in and outside the building.

Amber Jones, the school counselor at Walker Launch led multiple of these prayers.

She recalled hearing from a high school student who posted on Facebook that,  “She was in elementary school, she ate lunch every day all alone. That changed when a man came up and introduced himself. That was Mr. Raines.”

Tabitha Norris, a third grade math teacher at Rossville Elementary School, added, “He cares for the kids, he cares for the teachers, he cares for everybody. We all showed up today to show him that we appreciate him. He focuses on what is important and it is all about the kids and some people have lost direction on what is important and we’ve got to keep him in.”

When Raines walked into the board room, he received a standing ovation and dozens of hugs.

The school board discussed the situation in private in a backroom during an executive session, out of sight from the public and media, for nearly two and a half hours.

Then they came out to announce no decision had been made, leaving the crowd of supporters on edge.

“They called this meeting kinda secretly over a fall break as most people are out of town, so this isn’t over, they didn’t want to announce anything today,” said Norris.

Jones said, “As a community we were just like “Why? Why is this happening? Why are they having this meeting?” We wanted answers. I think that’s why people showed up today because whether you support Mr. Raines or not, we have a right to know what’s going on.”

Raines says he just wants to resolve the situation and get to focusing on students.

“I don’t think it’s about future goals. I just think it’s about leadership in general and so that’s part of that personnel component, and we’ll try to work to continue to work through that as we go into the future… I appreciated that level of support. I provide a plan, and try to provide some inspiration. They do all the hard work,” he said.

He says in his view there is no bad blood between him and the board.

Raines said, “No hostility, we have a great working relationship. We don’t agree all the time, and that’s normal. When we walk out of the room, our main goal is to do what’s best for our kids.”

As attention turns to the next meeting, supporters of Raines say they are going to continue to let the board know how much they appreciate their superintendent.

Robert Stinson, the principal of Rossville Middle School said, “They listened to us today, and I know that this is a temporary victory, and is buying us a little bit of time until the next board meeting I presume.”

“We will keep fighting. We stand with Raines,” promised Norris.

No school board member was willing to comment on this situation.

There is another school board meeting Monday Night at 6 p.m. at Lafayette High school where many of the Raines supporters say they will once again be at.