Local News
Principal says he was banned for leading prayer group
A high school community is taking sides after the dismissal of a popular principal.
The Meriwether County administrator says he has been banned from campus because he led a prayer group.
At dismissal time at Manchester High School Thursday, some of the parents were fed up.
"It's all about the kids. So why are they causing all this commotion?” said parent Shirley Ann Jackson.
Jackson said she was frustrated by the controversy over former principal Michael Lehr, who is off the job for the rest of the school year. He says it’s because of his prayers.
"I don't think it should be a problem with him praying,” a student said.
It happened last week during an on-campus meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Dr. Lehr says he filled in for the group’s leader and read scripture.
Meriwether County Schools Superintendent Carol Lane put Lehr on administrative leave, but said she can’t discuss why.
"I don't violate anybody's rights,” Lane said. "I've never made it a practice, and I'm not going to start now, commenting on personnel issues.”
Most in town have heard a version or two of what happened, and they’re taking sides.
"You live in the South where it's all Bible country,” resident Catherine Stephens said.
Principal Lehr did not want to go on camera, but from his home told Channel 2 he had already been informed his contract was not being renewed for the next school year. He said that was a week before the prayer meeting, where school administrators are not supposed to assume leadership roles.
"Next time he'll know. You don't do stuff that you know will get you in trouble,” parent Shirley Ann Jackson said.
