ALEXANDRIA — Alexandria Elementary School principal Dick Sizelove is leaving his post to return to teaching.

During Monday’s meeting of the Alexandria Community Schools board, Sizelove’s replacement at the school, Scott Deetz, was officially hired.

Sizelove, meanwhile, will remain in the district as a physical education and health teacher and head coach for the boys tennis team.

“He’ll be returning to the classroom where I’m sure he’ll do a fine job,” said board member Thomas Gaunt.

In other council news:

• The board honored retiring Alexandria-Monroe teachers with wooden pen sets and many thanks for decades of service. Retiring teachers honored were Barbara Abernathy, Garth Cone, Gerry Cloncs, Gloria LeMaster, Jenny Chapel, June Miller and Myra Rose.

• Superintendent Jim Willey said the district is exploring alternate routes for school buses. “Bus transportation has become an issue because of late payments by the state and exorbitant fuel costs,” Willey said. No decision has been made which routes will be affected.

• Willey also announced his hopes to bring student voices to the school board by electing two suitable students to serve on the board as non-voting members. “We really want to harness that energy,” Willey said, explaining that he believes student contributions could benefit the board.

• Outgoing board members Chip McFerran, Daniel Baker and Gaunt congratulated incoming board members Tina Stanley, Warren Brown and Bob Kelly in their victories in the school board election. “When you can unseat three incumbent board members, that’s impressive,” Baker said. The new board members will take office July 1.