AMERICUS — At its first regular monthly meeting of 2015, on Thursday, Jan. 12, the Sumter County Board of Education elected a new chairman and vice chair. Mike Busman was elected as chair and Meda Krenson as vice chair. Both votes were unanimous.

The Americus Times-Recorder was unanimously chosen as the legal organ and discussion on the Board’s attorney continued from the work session on Tuesday. Sumter County Schools Superintendent Donnie Smith had said previously he wants to keep the current legal firm, Jones, Cork and Miller of Macon because, not only are they nearby, they are doing a good job. He said there are also several cases the firm is involved with now such as special education cases and a wrongful termination case that need consistency. Board members were provided information on five law firms and will make a final decision at the February meeting.

Alice Green moved that the Board accept the financial report, accounts payable for December 2014, and the preliminary cash flow report. Jim Reid said he had “two pages of questions” and asked who he should speak with to get some answers. The superintendent said he could help or that Reid could speak with Earlene Tracy, the system’s financial director.

Regarding an invoice from the Sumter County Board of Elections in the amount of $21,863,57, for the cost of the March 18 election, the superintendent said he was going to investigate further before asking for the Board’s approval of payment.

Under new business, the Board voted unanimously to approve the use of a portion of the former Cherokee School building for the Furlow Charter School which will start its first school year this fall.

The Board went into closed session to discuss personnel and legal matters. The Board came back into open session after an almost 45-minute closed session and unanimously approved the following personnel matters.

Resignations: Daphne Hamilton and Angela Curry; termination-job abandonment: Regina King; rescind termination: Marcus Dice; employment: Juanita Nixon, Lauren Waldal, Arthur Fulton, Sheila Adams, Zebb Jackson; military leave: Xsaivious Bridges; and family medical leave: Jerry Sanders and Gayla Braziel.