Fayette Board of Education celebrates opening of new location

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Former Fayette County Public School superintendents Dr. John DeCotis and Trigg Dalrymple take their place alongside current Fayette County Public School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow in front of the school system’s new logo. Photo/Fayette School System.
Former Fayette County Public School superintendents Dr. John DeCotis and Trigg Dalrymple take their place alongside current Fayette County Public School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow in front of the school system’s new logo. Photo/Fayette School System.

Just as the new Fayette County Public Schools’ logo embraces history with the future, the same held true for the open house and ribbon cutting ceremony for the school system’s new Fayette County Board of Education office building.

What was formerly known as the old Fayette County High School, and then repurposed as the LaFayette Educational Center (LEC) following the construction of the new Fayette County High, is now home to the Fayette County Board of Education and its central office operations.

This time last year, buildings A and B of the LEC were undergoing substantial transformations to house all of the school system’s central office operations in one place.

The Fayette County Board of Education relocated to the LEC in February after selling its building on Stonewall Avenue in Fayetteville to the city of Fayetteville.

With final finishing touches complete, the official open house and ribbon cutting was held October 21.

Longtime employees, now retired, who either worked at the central office and/or Fayette County High School, returned to get an insiders look at the new office spaces.

Among the special guests were two former school superintendents, Trigg Dalrymple (1984-1996) and Dr. John DeCotis (1999-2010); Juliette Babb, former school administrator and county office employee, Eleanor Ponder, Fayette County Board of Education receptionist; Jerry Whitacker, former school administrator and county office employee, and former Fayette County High School principals Gary Phillips (1986-2001) and Dr. Charles Warr (2001-2013).

Georgia Representative Josh Bonner and Southern Crescent Technical College President Dr. Alvetta Thomas also attended the event.

Fayette County High School Beta Club members conducted guided tours of the two buildings. Following the tour, guests enjoyed the sounds of the Fayette County High School Orchestra and light refreshments that featured a cake with the school system’s new logo.

The official ribbon cutting took place outside of the board of education building with Fayette County Board of Education Chairman Scott Hollowell doing the honors with a red ribbon and ceremonial scissors provided by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.