Some changes

on the Fayette County Board of Education as well as in the top administration

for the county's schools were presented at a special called school board

meeting Monday night.

Terri Smith

was named the new school board chairman, with Marion Key to serve as vice

chairman for 2003. New school board member Lee Wright took his seat for

the first time, and returning board members Greg Powers and Janet Smola

rounded out the group, as the entire board was present at the meeting.

As is also

customary for the first meeting of the calendar year, regular meeting

dates and times were set. The regular meeting date will remain the third

Monday of each month at 7 p.m., with two exceptions: January and February,

both of which have school holidays on the third Monday, will see the board

meet the fourth Monday at 7 p.m. Work session, if needed, will be the

first Monday of the month at a time to be determined later.

The school

board once again retained the law firm of Harben and Hartley to serve

as legal counsel, with the Weatherly Law Firm again as counsel for special

education.

The board discussed

possible dates for its retreat, which will be at the main office in Fayetteville

and will be a public meeting. While no decision has been reached, the

Saturday retreat will likely be either Feb. 8 or Feb. 22. A vote will

make it official later this month.

Stuart Bennett,

the county's assistant superintendent of education, announced at Monday's

meeting that he is leaving to join the Georgia Department of Education

as a deputy superintendent, effective next week. Fred Oliver, assistant

superintendent of operations, will oversee Bennett's duties until the

end of the school year, after which a replacement for Bennett will be

appointed.