The beginning of Pike County Board of Education meetings will sound different starting in November.

Mr. Herbert Reynolds, representative of district five, participated in his final board meeting Monday night. Reynolds, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Brundidge, usually gave the invocation at the start of the monthly meetings.

Reynolds said he was “a little apprehensive” in stepping down after 12 years on the board, but said that it is time for new faces to lead the board.

“The direction that the school board has been heading, a new board member can come right in and jump on board,” said Reynolds. “We have done some great things on this board, and are doing some now. We just need to be active in the community for the betterment of the school system and the children.

Reynolds did say, with a smile, that he might pop in every now and then at the board meetings just to see “if they would throw me out.”

Dr. Mark Bazell, who has served as superintendent since 2003, said that he hates to see Reynolds leave.

“He has been a great board member and a greater friend,” said Bazell.

In other business, the board approved the purchase of two new 2014 school buses. The buses will initially cost $154,658.54, but Bazell said that the buses will not cost the district any monies.

“We have two buses that are aging out, they are turning 11 years old,” said Bazell. “The way the state fleet renewal program works, the state will pick it up.”

The board approved several personnel matters including the hiring of Martha Hughes as a bus aide, Willie Jones as graduation coach for Pike County High School and Goshen High School and Tami Peak as a kindergarten teacher at Pike County Elementary School.

The next scheduled meeting for the Pike County Board of Education is set for Nov. 19, 2012.