The school bell will ring for Coweta County students next fall on Aug.12.

The 1999 calendar was one of three approved during Tuesday night's school board meeting. Board members decided to approve three years worth of calendars in order to allow parents more time in scheduling family vacations.

One of the interesting aspects of next year's calendar is the first semester will end Dec. 17 and coincide with the start of Christmas holidays. For years, board members have been moving towards this type of scheduling so students would not have to take end-of-semester exams shortly after they return from Christmas break.

Holidays for students next year include:

· Sept.6 - Labor Day.

· Nov.24-26 -Thanksgiving.

· Dec.1-Jan.10 - Christmas holidays.

· Jan.6 & 7-Student holidays.

· Jan.17-Martin Luther King's holiday.

· Feb.21- Presidents' Day.

· March 17- Planning day.

· April 3-7-Spring holidays.

School will start Aug.10 in 2000 and Aug. 9 in 2001.

The board also approved three new principals. Margaret Vann was appointed new principal at Eastside Elementary, while Kristin Berryman will go to White Oak Elementary and Mark Ballou will be the principal at the new Arbor Springs Elementary School.

Vann has 14 years experience in education and has worked in Coweta County for the last four years as an assistant principal at Newnan High School.

Berryman has 13 years experience and has served the last three years as an assistant principal at East Coweta High School.

Ballou has 16 years experience and has worked four years as an assistant principal at Newnan High School.