By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Uncertainty could be easily defined these days on the campus of E.A. Harrold.
Before the world was swept into corona-fever, the longtime staple of education in Millington had a shaky future. E.A. Harrold’s existence was brought into question earlier in March with a town hall forum and subsequential vote by the Millington School Board.
Before the Board voted to keep the school open through the 2020-21 school year, the staff and administration at E.A. Harrold got news of no classes throughout the end of March and beginning of April because of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States.
On March 24, E.A. Harrold Principal Tricia Speight, teachers, staff and faculty could be found the rain soaked campus located at 4943 West Union Road passing out free meals to students and preparing a mobile parade.
“We’re about to caravan around the community to see our Harrold Babies because we miss our babies,” E.A. Harrold third grade teacher Lauren Mabry said.
With the help of the Millington Police Department including Chief Mark Dunbar, more than 20 vehicles made trips around Millington to salute the students of E.A. Harrold.
“Just to see some familiar faces, to wave and say hi because we haven’t seen them in a week,” Harrold fourth grade teacher Meron Ticer said. “We miss them.”
The parade route started from the school and headed to the Cross Creek Apartments. Next up was the Jordan Crossing neighborhood before the caravan made its way to the Westside Mobile Home Community.
The the MPD led the crew down Wilkinsville Road before heading to the Millington Performing Arts Center. Then the parade made its way to the neighborhoods just off Navy Road, the Highway 51 loop and behind USA Stadium.
“It feels good and great,” Ticer said. “I’m glad we can all get together and do this for all of our kids. And just to see their faces again.”
Mabry said the team at E.A. Harrold is like the staffs at Millington Elementary, Millington Middle School and Millington Central High School — a family.
Mabry and Ticer said when times are tough like the COVID-19 pandemic, the educators of Millington Municipal Schools rally together and make sure their students stay encouraged.
“We have a special close knit community,” Mabry said of Harrold. “We feel like we know our babies personally and they know us. Like Meron said, ‘We just wanted them to know even though things crazy around the world are happening, crazy at home that we love them.
“And that we are their safe place and safe haven,” she concluded. “If it’s one more year we have with them, we’re going to make it one more great final year and go out with a bang.”
