The School Board has a new chairman and vice chairwoman after Thursday’s organizational meeting.

Michael Debranski was voted into the School Board chairman position during the organizational meeting. The motion carried passed by a six to one vote.

Debranski replaced Lorraine Skeeter, who has been serving as chairman of the school board since 2002.

Both Phyllis Byrum and Thelma Hinton were nominated for the position of vice chair. Hinton was elected for the position in a close vote.

The vice chairman’s position was left vacant when William Whitley chose not to run for re-election, making December his last School Board meeting. Linda Bouchard was elected to replace Whitley.

During the meeting, School Board members also reaffirmed the appointment of the clerk and deputy clerks through June 30. The school board also voted to set the dates of meetings for the 2011 calendar year, rescheduling the Feb. 10 meeting to Feb. 17 and the April 14 meeting to April 7 because the meetings conflicted with events previously scheduled. The board also re-affirmed their own salaries of $10,000 each. Debranski’s salary for the chairman’s position is slightly higher at $11,400.

Additionally, the board selected members and alternates to serve on various committees, including the City Council Liaison Committee, the Governor’s School for the Arts committee, the Local Special Education Advisory Committee, the School Board Policy Sub-Committee, the SECEP Board and more.