AIKEN - Deputy Superintendent Bill Gallman was named the interim superintendent for Aiken County Schools after a unanimous vote Tuesday.

The announcement came after a 45-minute, closed-door session to discuss the immediate replacement for retiring Superintendent Linda Eldridge.

Despite announcing plans to retire in June, Dr. Gallman said he would extend his stay with the district until an official appointment was made in the fall.

"I'm very honored and flattered," Dr. Gallman said as administrative staff and board members walked up to congratulate him. "We have an excellent school district, and I plan on keeping the train on the tracks."

Dr. Gallman began his career in schools as a bus driver during high school before becoming a psychologist for the State Hospital in Columbia.

He has served as deputy superintendent for the past 11 years overseeing facilities and maintenance within the district.

Dr. Eldridge announced her retirement April 24 after leading the district for the past 12 years.

The school board will move forward with a national superintendent search at a May 15 meeting.

Board members will announce several appointments to a citizen search committee and develop an advertisement that lists district priorities.

The school board's 7 p.m. meeting will be held at 1000 Brookhaven Drive.

The board on Tuesday also considered a change in on-campus cell phone use for Aiken County middle and high school students.

Aiken County School board member John Bradley proposed that possession of a cell phone should be a violation of school conduct policy if it's not being kept in two currently permitted locations: the locker or the car.

The current policy allows the student to have the cell phone at school but prohibits taking it out while school is in session.

But some students have gotten away with having the cell phones out by claiming they had them by accident.

The proposed policy change would remove the subjectivity in determining whether the policy had been violated, Dr. Bradley said.

The board voted to delay adopting a formal proposal until middle and high school principals were polled.