The Russellville City Schools Board of Education voted to appoint the positions of president and vice president for the coming year during its May 26 meeting.

Radford Hester recommended Kim Clonts for president. Jerry Groce recommended Greg Batchelor for vice president. The Board voted in favor of both.

“I can’t wait to get our new people going,” said out-going president Gregg Trapp. “Y’all will do a great job. You’ll take it and run with it. I believe that in my heart. I think we’re in good hands.

“I appreciate every one of you, and I appreciate my time here.”

Clonts expressed her enthusiasm to take on the role of president. “Thank you, Greg, for doing an amazing job this year. We really appreciate all your hard work.

“As a Russellville graduate,” Clonts added, “it has truly been an honor to serve on the Board of Education for the last year and a half, and I am humbled to now serve as its president. I really appreciate my fellow board members entrusting me with this responsibility and will strive to uphold the standards set by all those who came before me.”

Batchelor agreed he is looking forward to serving as vice president. “We just want to see the school system continue in its role of excellence, and the main thing is to grow the kids and give them the opportunities in life they deserve.”

RCS Superintendent Dr. Heath Grimes said he is looking forward to working with Clonts and Batchelor in their new positions.

“Each year, RCS board members elect a president and a vice president in a rotating fashion. Each president brings new ideas and has different preferred styles of communication, so it is always a fun, exciting, but also challenging time for me,” Grimes said. “I am excited to meet with Ms. Clonts and talk about her ideas for RCS and to hear about her ideas and goals over the next year.”

Among other business conducted at the meeting, the Board announced a number of personnel actions, including the retirements – effective July 1 – of Ann Scott, principal at West Elementary, and Kristie Ezzell, principal at Russellville Elementary.

Effective July 1, Alicia Stanford will move from being the assistant principal at West Elementary to being the principal, and Tiffany Warhurst will move from being the assistant principal at RES to being the principal.

Effective July 1, Suzanne Glass, a teacher at RES, will become assistant principal at West Elementary, and Channing Wright will become assistant principal of RES.