At last Thursday’s Amherst County School Board meeting, Superintendent Steven Nichols recognized Amherst County Sheriff E.W. Viar, Sheriff’s Office Capt. John Grieser and the division’s three school resource officers — Louis Goldman, Noel De Palma and Brian Tharpe — for their contributions to keeping schools safe.
“It takes a special kind of cop to be a schools cop,” said Nichols of the school resource officers. “And they have done that beautifully.” Nichols also recognized Gary Roakes, who recently stepped down as the county’s director of public safety after 13 years to take a position in a Maryland-based consultant firm. Any time there was an emergency involving the schools, Roakes was on hand and ready to serve, Nichols said.
“Gary has brought a level of passion that will be sorely missed,” Nichols said. “He has left so much of himself here.”
School officials also recognized Amherst County High School senior Haleigh Tomlin, who took part in her final meeting as the Amherst County School Board’s student representative member.
Tomlin, who plans to attend Washington and Lee University, gave a tearful farewell and said she has gained a new appreciation for the community, especially after the outpouring of support for those affected by the April 15 tornado that devastated much of the Elon area.
“I think Amherst is a really great place to grow up,” Tomlin said to board members. “It’s going to really be sad to leave it. You do a really good job, and so do all the teachers.”