With the start of the new year came the start of a new term for several Gainesville City Schools board members.

Incumbents Willie Mitchell and Sammy Smith, along with new member John Filson, were sworn in at the board’s work session Monday.

Hall County Superior Court Judge Bonnie Oliver officiated the swearing-in ceremony. Each board member placed his left hand on the Bible and raised his right hand to take the oath, affirming his intention to “truly and faithfully discharge all the duties required” of board members to the best of his ability.

Oliver said she considered the Gainesville community “extremely blessed” because of the school system, and she thanked Filson, Mitchell and Smith for their service to the city and the schools.

“I have three children that went through the Gainesville City School System,” Oliver said. “I had the opportunity to spend time with them over the holidays this year. They all have flown the nest, and they came back. It was such a delight to see these kids and the responsible, young adults they’ve become — them and their friends — and it’s attributable to the Gainesville City School System and this community as a whole.”