Keith York knew his time would come, but he didn't expect it would come this soon.

Per the recommendation by Interim Superintendent Wayne Boswell, the Butler County Board of Education unanimously approved York's promotion to become principal of Georgiana High School effective immediately at its regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday at R.L. Austin Elementary School.

York was named acting principal by the board last month following the death of Georgiana's principal of eight years, Roland Pettie.

Pettie hired York as assistant principal and was grooming him to eventually become principal once Pettie retired.

"I think it would have been an easier transition for him to retire and then take over, but that's not how it was intended to be I guess," York said. "I appreciate the opportunity the board is giving me, and I look forward to doing a good job for Georgiana High School and its students."

York's first item of business as Georgiana's principal came after the board meeting Tuesday. York is stepping down as head football coach, so he now is in charge of finding his successor.

"I would like to have it done by the June board meeting," York said. "This is certainly the hiring time of the season, especially for the good (football coaches)."

York's promotion comes after serving as assistant principal one year at Hillcrest High in Evergreen and three years as assistant principal at Georgiana High. York served as head football coach at Georgiana for five years.

In addition to the change of personnel at Georgiana, change will be felt school systemwide after the school uniform dress code policy was unanimously adopted by the board.

Some additions were made to the policy by allowing girls to wear khaki or navy Capri pants or skorts.

Boswell said that he hoped to have the policy available to the public by the end of the week or no later than the last day of the school year.

"I don't think I've heard so much about fashion than I ever have," Boswell told the board. "I know more about clothing now than I thought I should have to know."

Before the board's unanimous consent, board member Billy Jones again said the new uniform policy would not be effective if it was not enforced.

Later in the board meeting, the board approved the hiring of the Montgomery architectural firm of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc. for the plans for roof replacement of all schools within the system.

Boswell said the estimated cost for the roof replacements would be about $633,295. The Montgomery firm may also be hired for drawing up plans for the demolition of the poured concrete bleachers at Georgiana's football stadium.

The board also agreed that if the funds were available that work was desperately needed to replace the bleachers. But even if the funds were available a representative from the Montgomery firm said it would be "pushing it" to have the project complete by the start of the new school year.

In a report from each high school principal the board was given a breakdown of how many seniors would and would not be given some type of exit certificate at the end of this school year.

In other matters Tuesday, the board approved:

The maternity leave of absence requests of Sonya Bogan and Debbie Lawrence.

The retirement requests of Edna Crews, Ronald Faulk, Patricia Griffith, Delphine Hartin, Leroy Johnson, Jane Pierce and Pauline Alexander.

The request to advertise for bids for milk and bread for the child nutrition program.

The purchase of walk-in coolers at Greenville Middle School, McKenzie School and Georgiana High for the child nutrition program.

The Community Co-Op Policy/Procedures, Community Co-Op Program Visitation, Community Co-Op Training Agreement, Community Co-Op Rules, Regulation and Provisions and Safety policy for career technical education programs.

The request to add career/technical endorsements and advanced career/technical endorsements to high school diplomas beginning in 2006.

The request for permission to advertise for bids for a special needs school bus.