The North Carolina State Board of Education has appointed a new leader as three members step down.
The state's public school policy body voted unanimously Thursday to make Vice Chairman Eric Davis its new chairman. Davis is the former Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board chairman and replaces outgoing Chairman Bill Cobey, who headed the state board for five years.
"In spite of conflicts, confusion, starting and stopping on things and working our way through difficult issues, we're moving forward, we're making progress," Cobey said in his farewell remarksl. "Public education is getting better."
Cobey and two other members appointed by former Gov. Pat McCrory announced last month that they would resign early. Cobey says he wanted to avoid serving past his term expiration next March.
Current Gov. Roy Cooper can fill the vacancies left by the resignations until the terms expire without General Assembly confirmation votes. Cooper says he'll make new permanent appointments to the board after the legislature convenes in January.
Reporter Liz Schlemmer contributed to this report.