The often fractious tenure of Coweta's school superintendent came to

a dramatic end Wednesday afternoon.

The Board of Education and Superintendent Peggy Connell agreed that she

would no longer head up the school system and that she would be out of her

office by today.

Although Connell will vacate school property today, the board agreed to

pay her $140,000 salary, car allowance and health benefits through December

31, 2005.

Earlier this year, the board had extended her contract through 2007.

In the separation agreement that will be accepted at a called meeting this

morning, no specifics are given for the separation.

The only hint comes in two paragraphs of the agreement that "disputes

and controversies have arisen between the board and Connell over the operation

of the school system and other issues."

The agreement further states that it is in the best interests of the school

system, the taxpayers and Connell that she leave her position.

Both the board and Connell are bound not to discuss the issue further and

the only statement came from board chairman Rick Melville Wednesday.

"Dr. Peggy Connell announced her separation today as Superintendent

of Schools for the Coweta County School System, effective immediately," the

statement read. "Dr. Connell began her tenure in April, 2002. Her constant

focus has been strengthening a solid curriculum program, which has led Coweta

County students to achieve unprecedented success. This past year for the

first time the three Coweta County high schools had an average SAT score

of over 1,000.

"The system achieved an overall pass rate of 96 percent for its third

graders on Georgia CRCT. Two of the county's graduating seniors were named

National Merit Finalists in May, 2004. Recently, Central Educational Center

was named a National Model High School.

"Dr. Connell's leadership and vision is also reflected by her role

in expanding the arts program in Coweta County. During her term of office,

Dr. Connell oversaw the completion and opening of Centre for Performing and

Visual Arts, the hiring of the Fine Arts Director, implementation of a middle

school strings program, and the creation of a county-wide honors chorus and

a collaborative summer play performed by students from all three high schools.

"Dr. Connell presently is under contract to serve as Superintendent

of the Coweta County School System through June 30, 2007. Although Dr. Connell

is willing to continue to serve as Superintendent through the term of her

employment contract, Dr. Connell agrees that it is in the best interest of

the School System and its students to mutually part ways under the terms

of a Separation Agreement agreed to by the Superintendent and the Board of

Education."

The board also entered into an agreement with Assistant Superintendent Chris

Scott. Scott's official resignation day will be June 30, 2005, but he

will be on paid administrative leave until then. Scott had filed a complaint

with the Office of Civil Rights and agreed to withdraw his complaint.

The final action to be taken at the Board meeting today is the appointment

of Dr. Blake Bass as superintendent.

Bass has served 26 years with the Coweta County School System as a teacher,

assistant principal, principal, director of human resources, and most recently

as Associate Superintendent. Bass is a member of Newnan Kiwanis Club, First

Baptist Church of Newnan, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Coweta

County YMCA and the Flint River Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

He will be paid the same salary as Connell and his contract runs until 2008.