By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Pelham Board of Education will meet on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month, and will be led by a longtime former educator and a financial planner, the board decided during its first meeting on Dec. 4.

During the meeting, the newly appointed School Board laid out its monthly meeting schedule and elected several board officers.

The School Board will meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. at Pelham City Hall and on the fourth Thursday of the month at 4 p.m., also at City Hall. The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 9 a.m.

During the board’s Dec. 4 meeting, Rick Rhoades, who was elected School Board president during the meeting, said the meeting times were set in the morning and afternoon hours to allow School Board members to regularly attend after-hours school functions.

After he was elected School Board president, Rhoades thanked his fellow board members for their votes of confidence.

“I assure you (that) you will get my very best I’ve got whenever you call on me to serve,” Rhoades, a longtime former educator, said. “The potential for our community is really tremendous. We are going to do great things for our city and our children.”

Paul Howell, a financial planner, was elected as the School Board’s vice president, and said he was “excited about the things to come.”

“Our first order of business is to dispel any fears and concerns,” Howell said. “Everything is going to be fine.”

Angie Hester was elected as the board’s secretary and Dr. Barbara Regan was elected as the board’s parliamentarian. Regan will work to ensure the Pelham School Board’s meetings follow proper procedure as required by law.