You have to say this about Michele Henley. She is resilient.

Some may define that as stubborn.

Or someone who doesn’t get the message.

Henley, as you may know, is a member of the DeSoto County school board. And over the last month or so, a lot of folks don’t want her to continue in that position.

District Attorney Matthew Barton wants her to resign.

A roomful of critics at a school board meeting called for her to step down.

The family of a crime victim is demanding she relinquish her seat.

Heck fire, even the other school board members want her gone.

And so far, Henley has ignored the requests.

Or demands.

To remind folks what got us to this narrative, Henley wrote a letter in support of former youth pastor and assistant high school basketball coach Lindsey Whiteside.

Whiteside pleaded guilty to a state charge of sexual battery with a minor in October. During her sentencing hearing, Henley took the stand to speak for leniency in sentencing Whiteside.

Immediately after she testified, the pressure came raining down. Barton, handling the prosecution in the case, gave Henley a letter as she stepped off the stand stating that “in the interest of restoring moral clarity and public trust, I respectfully, but firmly demand your immediate resignation.”

Henley declined the request.

Then there was a school board meeting where a bunch of citizens came to the microphone to tell Henley she was unfit, in their minds, to oversee the children and policies of DeSoto County Schools.

A significant number of students stayed home one day in protest over the matter.

Henley continued to ignore the calls for her to step down.

The other four school board members even wrote a letter saying they no longer support her being on the board, hoped that she would step down, and after she didn’t, requested she leave.

Henley stayed on. Apparently digging her heels in deeper.

Now, the school board members are asking the Legislature for help.

This week, North Mississippi reporter Brandon LaGrone wrote about a resolution passed by the school board. It encouraged the state Legislature to pass a law granting them the authority to oust a member for some specified bad actions.

If the folks in Jackson grant the request and pass the law, how soon will the DeSoto County school board take action?

Otherwise, what’s at play here?

Is Henley determined to wait until her current term ends? She is not up for reelection until 2028.

Is she hoping the calls die down, and things return to the way they were before her support of Whiteside?

Or is the approach to just say: “The heck with y’all. I ain’t going nowhere.”?

Henley hasn’t said much regarding the matter. She issued a statement early in the debate and responded a time or two to public outcries at school board meetings.

Otherwise, she has stayed on and stayed quiet.

As the messages for her to leave the school board continue.

— Suburbs editor, Clay Bailey

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