By Rupert Howell

Sandra Darby was elected to replace long-time school board president Lygunnah Bean during Tuesday’s January monthly meeting of the South Panola District board of trustees.

Darby was nominated by trustee Jerry Cooley who was then elected vice-president of the five member board. Trustee Kim Nix who retained her position as the board’s secretary, nominated Cooley with all nominations passing unanimously.

Bean said Tuesday that he was caught totally by surprise by the nomination and although a “little disappointed”—was not bitter.

Bean is currently serving on the state school board association as past president with aspirations to serve nationally.

Cooley said Wednesday that he felt everybody should have the opportunity to serve as board president and suggested revolving terms of two years for the board’s top position.

Bean opened Tuesday’s meeting, then sought approval of the agenda before turning the gavel over to School Superintendent Keith Shaffer who opened the floor for nominations.

Following Cooley’s nomination of Darby and the unanimous vote, Shaffer turned the gavel over to Darby who presided during the other officer elections and the remainder of the meeting.

It was the first meeting for trustee Buddy Gray and board members proceeded to select a redistricting plan as they had scheduled once he came aboard.

Trustees again voted in unison accepting Alternate Plan 2, a plan they had agreed upon before a public hearing was held last year, as the favored plan to send to the U.S. Justice Department for approval.

Like many political subdivisions, school boards must draw new district lines if populations shift and vary more than 10 percent in the previous census according to the one-man one-vote rule of the Voting Rights Act.

The chosen plan was criticized during last year’s hearing for a gerrymandered point that stretched from the Quitman County line on the west far into the other side of the county.

Harold “Pee Wee” Johnson and his wife, Martha Lynn, complained during the hearing that the configuration had them voting for a representative from another region of the district rather than for trustees who were located much closer to their home on Good Hope Road.

The new board president noted Tuesday that the chosen plan had the least variance. Attorney Colmon Mitchell had previously noted that all three plans met Justice Department criteria and that a unanimous vote of approval may help with final certification by that department.