Last week, the latest "shot" was fired in the seemingly unending battle for supremacy in the Rock Hill School District.

In the latest salvo, the Ohio Department of Education sent a letter stating that the Rock Hill Board was violating state law by operating without a superintendent. Further, the state declared that if the practice was not stopped soon, the district could lose millions of dollars in state funds.

The board, or at least three of the five members of the board, voted to send superintendent Lloyd Evans home on Jan. 8, pending an appeals court ruling.

At issue is whether or not Evans’ contract - extended by a lame duck board in the fall of 2003 - was valid.

Now, more than a year after the latest battle began - though disputes in the district date back several decades - the divisive behavior continues.

Apparently, few people in power positions within the district talk much to one another.

They’ve pretty much drawn their lines in the sand and squared off for battle.

As they await the latest court ruling - and both sides continue to spend thousands in legal fees, half of which is taxpayer money - each "side" continues to hurl barbs back and forth at one another.

The letter from the state, for example, was a prime example. It appeared that supporters of Evans complained to the Department of Education.

Their efforts resulted in the letter. Then, in an attempt to maximize the damage, Evans supporters called every TV station and attempted to preach their message from the mountaintops.

Could the state yank all funding for Rock Hill? Technically, yes.

Would they? Probably not, because unlike the two bickering sides in the Rock Hill debate, the state understands that the children of the district would suffer from such a move. And ultimately, personal opinions, likes and dislikes, do not matter, only "what’s best for the children?"

And that question should dictate everything in a school district.

If the majority of the board really wants Evans out, why don’t they stop the appeal, pay off his contract if necessary and get on with moving the district ahead?

Instead, they seem determined to draw it out and draw it out and waste more taxpayer money until they reach the outcome they want.

When all of the school board’s time is spent on working different legal angles, little seems to be accomplished.

The most positive news that came from the district - the most pro-student work - occurred when the county board was running things during a brief period that was mandated by the continuing legal fusses. Essentially, when the county board was handling things, both disputing sides were locked out of the decision-making, which may be a good option for the future.

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Ironton Tribune. He can be reached at (740) 532-1445, ext. 12 or by e-mail to kevin.cooper@irontontribune.com.