Daniel DeMersseman I Valdosta Daily TimesThe Rev. Floyd Rose held a press conference at Serenity Church as he continues his fight to get more minority contractors working on the new Valdosta High School currently under construction.

VALDOSTA, Ga.  — The Rev. Floyd Rose has vowed to continue the fight to get more minority contractors working on the new Valdosta High School.

Construction on the school is ongoing and is estimated to cost $85 million. Contractors were allowed to bid for work on each of the projects.

Of the $85 million, only one African-American won a bid. The bid was valued at $452,333.

Rose holds the Valdosta Board of Education responsible. The city school board “made the decision, they hired the contractors, and they can fire them,” Rose said during a press conference earlier in the week.

Terry Kelly, a contractor, said the “school board (has) lied to us,” that the board said workers could get jobs at the work site. However, “they would lock the doors” when he and other contractors went to talk to them, he said.

Rose said he feels compelled to continue the fight.

“When you’re wrestling with a bear, you can’t quit until the bear quits because if you quit before the bear quits, then you lose,” Rose said.