A swearing-in ceremony for the Gainesville City School Board of Education’s new members is set for Jan. 7.

Juvenile Court Judge Cliff Jolliff will swear in Maria Calkins and Sammy Smith at the beginning of the board’s monthly work session, which begins at 5 p.m.

Calkins will replace Lee Highsmith, who is serving as chairwoman, and Sammy Smith will replace Frank Harben. Highsmith and Harben both decided not to run for another four-year term.

The board also is set to elect officers and approve a meeting schedule for 2008.

A public hearing on the system’s application to the state for charter status has been moved to 4:30 p.m. from 6:30 p.m. School systems have until Jan. 15 to apply for the status, which would let them make educational reforms while having some freedom from state and federal regulations.

The hearing and swearing-in ceremony will take place at the school system’s main offices at 508 Oak St.

From staff reports