The newest

elementary school now under construction in Fayette County has been officially

named Sara Harp Minter Elementary School.

The move was

approved by a unanimous vote of the Board of Education at Monday night's

regular meeting, acting upon the recommendation of Superintendent John

DeCotis, who chose the name from a handful submitted by a new committee

formed to come up with names for new schools.

Minter, who

lived in Fayette County her entire life, graduated from Fayette County

High School in 1926 and spent nearly all of her 41 years as a teacher

in the country before retiring from Hood Avenue Elementary in 1971. She

died in 1996.

"There

is no greater honor than to have one of our schools named after a teacher,

the most important ingredient in the education of a child," DeCotis

said before Monday's vote.

The other names

recommended for this school will be added to a standing list of names

to be considered for other new schools constructed in Fayette County,

he added.

Board member

Marion Key encouraged the public to donate library books to new schools

in honor of various teachers, thereby giving the community another avenue

for honoring local educators, since there are not nearly enough schools

to name after all worthy teachers.

The board also

voted Monday night to purchase 4.5 acres adjacent to the school site,

on Ga. Highway 85 south of Fayetteville, for an additional septic area.

The total cost of the purchase is $72,000, or $16,000 per acre.