Incoming Board of Education chairman Mitch Powell wasted no time in distancing himself from the previous board.
Powell asked the board to look into whether a contract negotiated with former Superintendent of Education Peggy Connell and other members of the school system was binding on the current school board.
Last August, the fractious tenure of Cowetas school superintendent came to a dramatic end when the Board of Education and Connell agreed that she would no longer head up the school system.
Although Connell vacated school property immediately, the board agreed to pay her $140,000 salary, car allowance and health benefits through Dec. 31, 2005.
Earlier in 2004, the board had extended her contract through 2007.
The board also entered into an agreement with Assistant Superintendent Chris Scott. Scotts official resignation day will be June 30, 2005, but he will be on paid administrative leave until then. Scott agreed to withdraw a complaint he had filed with the Office of Civil Rights.
After the agreement was reached, the board appointed 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.
The board agreed with Powells suggestion and voted 6-0-1 to seek legal opinion on the contracts. Board member Smith Pass abstained from the vote and said after the meeting that she didnt vote because she was part of the board that reached the agreement with Connell.