By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

Maintaining high academic standards and dealing with growing needs for housing students tops the list of Fayette school superintendent Dr. John DeCotis' priorities for the 2000 school year.

Three “report cards” which rate state schools have ranked Fayette County schools tops in performance. “We are pleased with our high standards, but we want to study where we can make improvements,” DeCotis said.

One area he intends to focus on is the college preparatory program in the high schools. State requirements have made scheduling extremely tight for students. DeCotis said he wants to explore ways students can have more choices in selecting classes.

While the student population has slowed a bit in Fayette County and across the state, DeCotis said, “The rate is still greater than we would like.” An estimated 250 new students have enrolled in Fayette schools since August, about half the number expected. The annual increase experienced in the last seven years has been about 700 new students.

The Fayette County Board of Education will meet in a called session at 7 p.m. Monday evening, Jan. 10 at the Board of Education office. The board will elect a chairman and vice chairman and appoint an attorney for the year.

Debbie Condon is the current school board chairman. Vice chairman is Greg Powers. Meeting dates will also be set for the year.

The next regular meeting will be Monday, Jan. 24.