Fun101.1 Local News

AFTER A TWO HOUR MEETING MONDAY AT THE CIVIC CENTER—THE 66-MEMBER EXECUTIVE COMMITTE OF THE THOMASTON-BASED GA. HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO ACCEPT THE RETIREMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GARY PHILLIPS AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR—AND HIS CONTRACT THRU 2018 WILL BE HONORED—ANNUAL SALARY AROUND $130,000 .

TWO BILLS IN THE GA. GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD REPLACE THE GHSA—BUT ATTORNEY ALAN CONNELL—LEGAL COUNSEL TOLD ZOOM NEWS—HE HAD PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN WITH STATE SENATOR BRUCE THORNTON OF CARTERSVILLE AND THRONTON INDICATED HE WOULD DROP HIS BILL IF PHILLIPS AGREED TO RETIRE. HE WAS SIDEWAYS WITH GHSA OVER A 2015 BASEBALL GAME TRAVEL DECISION .

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHNNIE CALDWELL TOLD US HE OPPOSES THE HOUSE BILL BUT IT WAS HELD IN COMMITTEE AND DID NOT CROSS OVER TO THE SENATE FRIDAY --- A GOOD SIGN FOR GHSA SUPPORTERS.

PHILLIPS -- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR 3 YEARS –16 YEARS IN ALL-- TOLD THE COMMITTEE MONDAY-- BECAUSE OF HIS RESPECT FOR GHSA AND FAITH IN THE JOB ITS DOING—HIS FIRST INCLINATION WAS TO FIGHT TO THE BITTER END—BUT THIS WOULD BENEFIT NO ONE.

OVERALL—I AM QUIET PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPISHED— PHILLIPS SAID.

LAST WEEK--THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTED 5 TO 3 TO RECOMMEND PHILLIPS RETIRE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR—LEADING TO MONDAY'S MEETING OF THE FULL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE—WHICH MADE IT CLEAR BY UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE IT DID NOT WANT PHILIPS TO LEAVE—BEFORE ACCEPTING HIS RETIREMENT PLANS.