FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- A search and screen committee has released the list of four finalists for the position of Fort Valley State University's ninth president. The board completed the interview process on May 17, and says they've selected four highly qualified, experienced, and talented individuals.

All four will visit the campus for hour long presentations from May 28, to June 3. The presentations will begin at 3:30 p.m. each day in the C.W. Pettigrew Center Auditorium. FVSU students, faculty, and staff as well as the community are invited to attend.

The finalists are:

Tuesday, May 28
Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, Provost, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Education/Psychology at Dillard University

Wednesday, May 29
Dr. Sandra Westbrooks, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chicago State University

Thursday, May 30
Dr. Daniel K. Wims, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor of Agricultural Sciences at Alabama A&M University

Monday, June 3
Dr. Ivelaw Griffith,Professor of Political Science and Provost and Senior Vice President at York College of The City University of New York

Whichever candidate is chosen, will replace Dr. Larry Rivers, who's stepping down after more than 7 years leading the institution.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) - One of Mayor Chuck Shaheen's opponents in the last mayoral race in Warner Robins has decided to give it another go.

Surrounded by supporters Tuesday in front of the recreation department on Watson Boulevard, Chuck Chalk announced he's running again.

Chalk went head to head with Shaheen in the last election in 2009 but came up short.  Tuesday, he said he hopes he can bring a more cooperative spirit to the mayor's office.

"I do know what I think would work well and I think that's building off our strengths," says Chalk.  "Warner Robins obviously has great education, it has the (Robins) base which does logistics sustainment and aerospace engineering.  If you're doing those things well already, why don't we do those in different areas?"

Retired city firefighter Randy Toms has already announced he'll be running for mayor.  Candidates will qualify for the November election in August.

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MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) - Parents of students at Minnie Burghard and Agnes Barden Elementary Schools in Bibb County begged the school board Tuesday night to keep the two schools separate.

Consolidating the two schools is a move that would save the district hundreds of thousands of dollars as it continues to find ways to cut its huge deficit.

Under a plan presented to the board, Barden Elementary School would be closed down, and its students would be sent to Burghard.

Parents and students aren't happy about the proposal. One father tells us his daughter excels at Barden like he's never seen her excel before.

"I have two other kids from another marriage," says Diontae Hill.  "They left one school where they were doing terrible, then we put them in Barden and they went from Cs and Fs to As and Bs."

Another father tells us he wishes the board would look at other alternatives to saving money.

"I wish that things were different," says Lonnie Estes.  "I hope that they make the right decision.  I hope that the parents have faith in the board that they'll go ahead and do the right thing and keep Agnes-Barden in circulation."

In another money-saving proposal, the board discussed reconfiguring grade levels at King-Danforth and Jones Elementary Schools.  The administration recommended King-Danforth serve students from 3rd through 5th grades with Jones serving as the Pre-K through 2nd grade building.

Each item requires two public forums before it can be voted on.  The dates for those forums haven't been set.

Associate Superintendents to Principals

In budget talks, the school district has discussed cutting all associate superintendent positions to save money.

Tuesday, the board named four of those employees as principals throughout the district, effective July 1.

Bertha Caldwell will be the new principal of Skyview Elementary, and Donna Jackson will serve in that position at Springdale.

Terrence Martin will be Porter Elementary's new principal, and Tanzy Kilcrease will take over as principal at Southwest High School.

Jones Elementary School principal Keela Malone will become principal at Rice.

Board members Lester Miller and Thelma Dillard voted against the transfers.  Jason Downey abstained from voting and Lynn Farmer was not present.

Interim Superintendent Contract

The board finalized a contract Tuesday night for interim superintendent Dr. Steve Smith.  Smith will be paid a base salary of $198,000, with benefits that include health insurance and a car allowance.

He's expected to start work on June 1.  The contract runs through June 2014.

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