Thursday marked a farewell for a pair of school board members who were defeated in their recent attempts at reelection.

One was the school board chairman Jeff Lee who will be supplanted on the board by long-time educator and former high school Principal James Bennett. Lee leaves office after one term but believes the board accomplished some big things while he was in office.

“You know I really have a heart for athletics,” Lee said in bidding good-bye to the board. “So I’m proud to see we will have an indoor practice facility. That means a lot for our teams.”

Lee said he believes the board has improved education in Warren County during his four years.

“I think wee are leaving it better than we found it,” Lee noted.

Director of Schools Bobby Cox praised the work of Lee and outgoing Board Member Michael Adamson, saying they always had the best interest of the students at heart.

“Both of them have contributed great ideas,” Cox said.

Fellow board member Bill Zechman also praised his outgoing colleagues.

“Warren County was well served by them,” Zechman said.

Lee will be replaced by Bennett while Adamson will be replaced by Helen Martin. Both have taken the oath of office and will officially begin duties Sept. 1.

As their last act, Lee and Adamson were among those who unanimously elected Linda Blair as the new school board chairman. Blair was the only one of the three incumbents who survived the elections earlier this year. She was elected to a second term of office over the challenge of two hopefuls. Tonya Bess, who comes up for reelection in two years along with two other members of the board, was unanimously elected vice chair of the school board.