A portion of a local Eagle Scout project at DeKalb West School will be dedicated to former principal Danny Parkerson, who retired last year after 19 years as principal at the school.

The Board of Education voted to grant a request from Scoutmaster Jen Sherwood to dedicate a new flagpole at the school to Parkerson. "I’m here on behalf of my son James Sherwood, who has been working on an Eagle Scout project at DeKalb West School which included planting a tree donated by Mack Harney of Harney's Nursery, and adding four welcoming benches at the entrance of the new building. He also created a walkway from the concrete to the flagpole," Sherwood said while addressing the school board Thursday evening.

"The tree was set in memory of three individuals who had trees donated and planted in their memory. Those trees had to be removed in order for the building to be placed where it is,” Sherwood continued. “The new tree is to continue to recognize those individuals in memory. What Jim would like to do in addition to that is to dedicate the flagpole in honor of retired principal Danny Parkerson. Danny Parkerson has been influential in many children's and families lives in our community. Boy Scouts are to be physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight, and Jim could think of no better person to honor that flagpole than Mr. Danny Parkerson.”

Sherwood brought a plaque intended to be placed near the pole that reads: "In Honor of Principal Danny Parkerson. ‘Life is Simple. Do the Right Thing’. James Sherwood. Eagle Scout Project 2015.”

"Many children and staff members heard these words many times. ‘Life is simple. Do the right thing’. After every one of his morning announcements, that is what he would say. These are great words to live by, and I'm sure that many children and parents will remember that also. Jim remembers that, and would like to place this by the flagpole, with your permission, to commemorate that," Sherwood shared.

Parkerson, now a school-board member, said he was honored to be recognized by a former student, but stressed that he was not alone in shaping children’s lives.

"To me that's a way teachers get paid that they don't get paid monetarily, when their kids recognize them for something that they have done. There have been a lot of good principals at the West School. There were a lot of good teachers and staff that made my job and leadership easy. I accept and recognize this for all of them, because they are part of the family at the West School in what we do for kids. I know it's continuing. There are other people just as deserving, but I really appreciate it," Parkerson remarked.