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Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29

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Hixson’s Joe Smith reelected chair of the Hamilton County school board

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Board Chair Joe Smith, R-Hixson, speaks during the Hamilton County Board of Education's meeting Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Board members reelected Smith to chair the panel for another year.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Board Chair Joe Smith, R-Hixson, speaks during the Hamilton County Board of Education's meeting Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Board members reelected Smith to chair the panel for another year. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Board Chair Joe Smith, R-Hixson, speaks during the Hamilton County Board of Education's meeting Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Board members reelected Smith to chair the panel for another year.

School board member Joe Smith, R-Hixson, will chair the Hamilton County Board of Education for another year.

Board members also elected Karitsa Jones, D-Chattanooga, to serve as vice chair and Ben Connor, D-Chattanooga, to serve as the legislative representative.

All three votes passed unanimously at Thursday’s meeting.

With five newly elected school board members, Smith now oversees a board with seven Republicans and four Democrats. It previously had six Republicans, three Democrats and two independents.

(READ MORE: Hamilton County school board draws concerns about school safety)