"We were

very fortunate to have several excellent candidates from within the school

system who could step right into that job," said Superintendent Richard

Brooks. "My congratulations to Blake; he will be an outstanding associate

superintendent."

"I'm thrilled

for the opportunity," said Bass. "I'm very pleased that Dr.

Connell, Mr. Brooks and the board had confidence in my abilities."

Bass said that

it is an interesting time to take on the position, coinciding as it does

with the beginning of a new administration.

"I hope

that I will be able to assist Dr. Connell with the day-to-day duties of

her office and give her the best opportunity to engage a new school system."

Bass, 49, is

a native of Coweta County and a product of the Coweta County School System.

He earned his B.A. in history at West Georgia College. He also earned

a M.Ed. degree in administration and supervision in 1990 from West Georgia,

and an E.D.S. degree in administration and supervision in 1994 from West

Georgia.

Bass also completed

certification through the Superintendent's Professional Development Program

offered by the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia School

Superintendent's Association in 2001.

Bass began

teaching history and coaching varsity football in 1976, first at Heard

County and then Villa Rica high schools.

He taught at

Evans Middle School and served as defensive coordinator for the Newnan

High Cougars from 1978 to 1990. Bass served as assistant principal at

East Coweta High School from 1990 to 1994 and principal at Central Middle

School from 1994 to 1997 before moving to Jackson Street as director of

human Resources for the school system and then executive director of administrative

services before becoming assistant superintendent of administrative services

in 2000.

As an administrator,

Bass said his greatest achievement has been "meeting the challenge

every year of finding enough teachers during a state-wide teacher shortage

and a continued boom here in Coweta County."

Bass's office

oversaw the hiring of 210 teachers to start the 2001-2002 school year.

Also Saturday,

the board approved Connie Hanson as executive secretary for the superintendent.

Hanson will replace Spencer Luckie when she retires from her position

March 31.

Hanson served

as executive secretary to the associate superintendent since 2000.

The board approved

the two personnel items following a brief executive session during its

annual retreat Saturday at Auburn University. It was the only action taken

Peggy Connell, Ph.D.