Some 30 minutes before a community meeting at Hardin Street Community Center in Opp, Opp City Schools Superintendent Michael Smithart challenged board of education members to take the lead in getting the community in the right place.

Smithart said the climate of the community was on his heart.

“In the climate of our community, if we can’t find something nice to say about someone, we just make it up,” he said.

Smithart invited those with problems with Opp City Schools to come to the Board of Education.

“We are at the same address,” he said. “If there is something that needs to be addressed.”

Smithart said that he hates that what happened at the BOE meeting last month got painted in a bad light.

“It’s incredibly frustrating as a school official,” he said.

In August, representatives of the black community took issue with points made in a board discussion of how to discipline students involved in extra-curricular activities. The discussion followed disciplinary action taken by the superintendent in an incident of theft involving athletes.

“Please as board members, I encourage you to debate. Everyone has an opinion. I appreciate the job you do.”

Smithart said those who have no concern for facts are irrelevant.