Despite a show of public support and a 90-minute executive session at Monday night's meeting, the Wilkes County Board of Education voted 4-1 to accept the resignation of Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Russell Morgan.

A protracted executive session for personnel, not open to the public or media because of privacy issues, followed the relatively short main meeting. The crowd of more than 50 family, friends, and supporters joined Morgan in awaiting the decision. At the end of the executive session, the crowd returned to the meeting room and the board voted to accept Superintendent Joyce Williams recommendation to accept Morgan's resignation.

Board Chairman Ricky Callaway and board members Kay Finnell, Kelly Powell, and Steve Albertson voted for the recommendation. Vice Chairman Bob Guin was the sole vote in Morgan's favor.

Morgan resigned last week when he was told there was not enough support on the board to for his contract to be renewed.

The meeting began with the recognition of Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School, which was named by U.S. News and World Report in its 2009 list of America's Best High Schools as one of 1,321 Bronze Award winners.

"We're very thrilled," said Principal Steve Echols, "They looked at over 21,000 public schools nationwide, and we were chosen as one of only 26 schools in the whole state of Georgia to be recognized. We're proud of what our faculty, staff, and students do every day at W-WCHS." The audience gave Echols and the school a round of applause.

The board also passed a change order for the nearly completed school complex. Williams asked for, and received, approval for $11,400 for a drainage system for the canopied student pickup area in the rear to prevent standing water and icy spots.

The board also passed final approval for its 2009 meeting dates, changing the time to 7 p.m. for each meeting. The meetings, set for the third Monday each month except for January and February, will be held January 26, February 17, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 21.

The board also accepted the bid of Farmers State Bank for a line of credit that the system will have to tap to cover payrolls in January due to a delay in the tax digest.

Board members also asked to delay action on proceeding with a study by LINC Service concerning using its services to upgrade the air handling and lighting in the elementary and primary schools. "We need to seriously pursue this," Callaway said, "but we don't know our budget yet." The board agreed to table the decision until January.