The Russellville city school board voted Thursday to hire Chris James as principal of West Elementary School.

James, who has spent seven years at the school as assistant principal, will replace Ramona Robinson.

Chris James

The board voted Thursday to promote Robinson to the position of federal programs/special education coordinator for the system.

“I am excited,” said James, who graduated from Russellville High School in 1991.

“This is a great opportunity and I appreciate the confidence of the superintendent and the school board.”

James said the transition should be easy because of his familiarity with the school and faculty.

“This is a great school with great teachers and staff,” he said.

“I just want to continue building on the things that we have going and keep it moving in a positive way.”

In other business, the school board:

• approved a field trip request for the RHS Marching Hundred to attend the 2010 Chick-fil-a Bowl in Atlanta, Ga., from Dec. 28-31

• approved a field trip request for the volleyball team to attend camp at Wallace State Community College from July 6-8

• approved facility use requests for the Watermelon Run on August 21, the Tri-State Festival of Bands on September 25, the Sweetheart Beauty Pageant on February 12 and a Kiwanis Club bike ride on August 14

• approved a contract with Addie’s Flip Tip and Tap to lease a portion of College Avenue Education Center for dance classes

• accepted the following resignations: Matt Geohagan, Coty Geohagan and Lori Parker

• hired the following personnel:

• Leanne James, Library Media Specialist, Russellville Elementary School

• Rachel McIntosh, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Russellville Middle School

• Robert Heath Guin, English/Language Arts Teacher/Assistant Coach Middle School Football/Assistant Coach 9th Grade Boys Basketball, Russellville Middle School

• Todd Tipler, Math Teacher, Russellville Middle School

• Whitney Sanders, Science Teacher/Assistant Coach Varsity Girls Basketball/Assistant Coach Softball, Russellville High School

• Millicent Bevis, Choral Teacher, Russellville High School

• Laura Caudill, English/Drama Teacher, Russellville High School

• Louvina Gross, Assistant JROTC Instructor, Russellville High School.