The resignation of Madison Elementary principal, Alan Mikal has left the community shocked and wondering. Since the news broke, there has been an outpouring of support for Mikal. Staff, parents and students are rallying around this man who is so valuable to them. I am one of those parents.

Since he took the helm a year and a half ago, Mikal has worked tirelessly for the benefit of our children.

His "open door and phone line" policy for students, staff and parents was the first welcome change. It is his philosophy that a good relationship between home and school fosters elementary students' learning. He also instituted a monthly communication from school to home, which has continued throughout his time as principal.

School Administrative District 59 promotes core values of character for its staff and students: honesty, respect, responsibility, compassion and understanding. Qualities that are each rare enough and yet all of them embodied by one individual, Alan Mikal.

I now implore all readers of this letter who believe we need to fight to hold on to what is good in our schools to stand up and be heard. Contact your board representatives and ask them to hold a special meeting to uncover the source of the problem, the real reason Mikal could not continue to work in a broken, non-supportive system of administration. We must act quickly to save a good man.

Jennifer Bess

Madison