For two long-term

Coweta County School System employees, Tuesday night's school board meeting

was full of a variety of emotions.

Superintendent

of Education Richard Brooks and his administrative assistant Spencer Luckie

are calling it quits at the end of this month.

Brooks has

worked his entire 30-year education career in the Coweta system, and has

served as superintendent during Coweta's high-growth period during the

last decade.

Board Chairman

Bill Covington praised Brooks and Luckie for their years of service and

said Brooks always had one thing on his mind.

"He always

did what was best for the kids," Covington said.

The superintendent

said that was a high compliment, since three of his own children are graduates

of the school system.

Former board

chairman Mike Sumner also congratulated Brooks for his years of service

and said Brooks' tenure as superintendent was remarkable.

"You've

probably had a longer service than 90 percent of the superintendents who

came along when you did. You've made our job much easier," he said.

Both Brooks

and Luckie thanked the board for their kind words. The superintendent

said he would still be around the county and hoped to be sitting in the

new grandstands at Northgate High School next fall, if the voters pass

Tuesday's sales tax vote and provide funds for numerous improvements in

the school system.