Marion Key's

election last week to Post 3 of the Fayette County Board of Education,

clinches her five-month campaign, which officially started with the Republican

primary in July.

"It's

been a long haul," Key sighed, following her victory over Bill Bryan

in last Tuesday's General Election.

Key will take

office Jan. 1. She'll be joined by Janet Smola, who will take over Post

1 from school board Chairman Debbie Condon, who did not seek reelection,

and Terri Smith, who won Post 2, defeating board member Connie Hale in

the summer primary.

A $65 million

school bond issue also passed last week, with Fayette County voters casting

22,725 votes in favor and 16,325 votes against.

The projected

timetable for the sale of bonds is between 60 and 90 days. In the meantime,

board members say their top priority will be acquiring land for the construction

of the three new elementary schools and the new high school to be funded

through the bond sale.

"We hope

before the end of school to lock in, or purchase some property, but we

don't know exactly where that will be," said Dr. John DeCotis, Fayette

County school superintendent.

Earlier discussion

on prospective elementary school locations pinpointed three high growth

areas: the Ga. Highway 54 corridor between Peachtree City and Tyrone;

the unincorporated area north of Peachtree City and the area between Fayetteville

and Brooks. The high school site is likely to be south of Fayetteville,

possibly in the Woolsey area.

The bond issue

also will cover renovations at older schools such as rewiring, relighting,

new ceilings and improvements in kitchens and restrooms.

The 10-year

bond will be added to the school bond tax starting with the 2001 tax bill.

The need for the bond came as the result of continued growth in the county

at an average rate of between 500 and 700 students per year and a state

mandate to reduce class size, just one of the conditions imposed on schools

Another issue

facing the new board will be redrawing school attendance lines or redistricting

in the most crowded schools. A starting place may be the attendance areas

for Fayette County High School where overcrowding has peaked. Discussions

conducted earlier in the year by the school facilities committees indicated

Sandy Creek High School may be able to absorb the overflow.

The next Fayette

County school board meeting is Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the district

offices at 210 Stonewall Ave.