VALDOSTA — The Lowndes County School Board elected Bill Roundtree by secret ballot Tuesday to fill the vacant District 2 seat.

The seat had been held by Willie Linahan until his mandatory resignation on March 2, after he pled guilty to a count of mail fraud and bank fraud in the U.S. District Court on Feb. 24.

In all, there were six candidates vying for the seat, but only Roundtree and Fred Wetherington received votes by the six district members on the school board. Roundtree received four of the six votes. Of the six candidates, Roundtree was the only one who didn’t participate during last week’s forum, saying that he only wanted to serve until the July election.

Roundtree has served two times on the school board. His children went to Hahira, and he now has two grandchildren in the Hahira school.

“I’m not seeking election,” Roundtree said. “Lowndes County has been good to Bill Roundtree, and I want to give something back if I can be of help. It’s an honor to serve, and I feel bound to do it.”

In other business:

During the information portion of the session, Mike Powers, executive director of facilities and operations, updated the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax II.

During April, there will be bids on additional classrooms in three county schools. The bids will be for six classrooms at the Hahira Elementary School, eight classrooms at Moulton Branch and 12 classrooms for Clyattville Elementary School.

The classrooms will eliminate portable classrooms, Powers said. Each of the projects has been approved by the state and is awaiting approval by the fire marshal. Powers expects the classrooms will be completed next spring. Another project waiting for a bid is a renovation project of the air conditioning in the Lake Park Elementary School, he said.



To contact reporter Rip Prine, please call 244-3400, ext. 237.