School Board agrees to resolution regarding Marion

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent

All CCS Board members unexpectedly raise their hands to vote 9-0 to the Marion Resolution presented Monday night. | CCS YouTube photo still

Cleveland County Schools – It was a quiet uneventful vote Monday night, as the Cleveland County Schools voted on the resolution to move forward with the bid process to accept Jerry Allen’s bid on Marion School property.

Unlike meetings in the past regarding Marion, it was a calm process, with no fanfare, no heckles from the audience; all board members stayed fairly quiet, and no one spoke out during public comments in opposition to accepting the bid; none from audience / residents or board members, alike.

Either the hype and anger had died down due to loss of interest, or they all got what they wanted.

Even School Board Members Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg, who had previously vehemently spoken out in favor of retaining Marion, in the hopes of reopening it, and had done so through outspoken expression in the past, remained quiet and in support of this bid, unlike the previous offer from One More, One Less, the nonprofit Christian organization that worked with foster and adoption families. Neither Blanton nor Grigg later spoke out on public record about why they changed their minds, or any of the others that previously opposed selling the old school grounds.

The previous rallying cry in the meetings and on social media of “We’re growing we need this” seemed to have vanished Monday night. It was interestingly agreeable in the quiet chambers of the Cleveland County School Board’s auditorium.

CCS Superintendent Stephen Fisher present the resolution to the board of education.

Read it here, below:

(Marion bid info continued below local sponsors….)

After Dr. Fisher presented the information, Chairman of the Board of Education, Joel Shores, asked if any board members had questions for Dr. Fisher; there were none. No one opposed nor had any public concerns.

Without questions or hesitation, a motion was made by Blanton to move forward with the bid offer and the motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Aaron Bridges.

The vote to adopt the resolution to accept the bid and move into the 10-day upset bid process passed 9 - 0.

The board of education then seamlessly moved on to other business.

The next regular public CCS Board of Education meeting will be held on May 11, 2026 at 6 p.m.

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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent. 

2026 The Shelby Independent.