The man at the centre of the controversial plans to replace Midhurst Grammar School with an Academy as part of a massive reorganisation of schooling in the Rother Valley has become the new face of West Sussex County Council (WSCC).
Mark Dunn, a county councillor for the past 18 years, has been elected new chairman of the council.
It means he has relinquished his post as cabinet member of children and young people's services.
This has been a high-profile post over the pas
t six months after the county council announced proposals to change the face of education across the Midhurst and Petworth area.
Mr Dunn told the Observer this week: "Luckily I am leaving the education debate in the safest possible hands.
"My officer team are very, very competent and alive to all the local feelings."
He said he was saddened he would no longer be involved deeply on a day-to-day basis in the education proposals and the plans to open an Academy, but would be watching with great interest.
Cllr Dunn said it was not a party political issue, as it was government and Conservative policy and many Liberal Democrats on WSCC supported the education changes.
Although his role as chairman was a non-political post, Cllr Dunn added: "The proposals have cross-party support and therefore I consider I do not seriously breach convention by saying that I support the Academy proposal."
Taking over his cabinet role is Pat Arculus, who represents Pulborough on WSCC.
Meanwhile Nola Hendon, who represents the Midhurst division, has been reappointed chairman of the select committee on children and young people's services, which has the job of scrutinising the work of the education department.
"I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to continue in my role as chairman of this committee," said Cllr Hendon.
But she admitted: "It is not going to be easy. I am quietly optimistic about the plans for the primary schools.
"But the Academy has raised issues and I have received many emails and calls from people about it.
"The message I am getting is that about 75 per cent of those who have contacted me are very, very anti-Academy.
"Those who understand the working of the select committee are asking me to call it in and this is something I would have to hand on to my vice-chairman and declare an interest, because the proposed Academy is in my division."
The vice-chairman of the select committee is Robert Dunn, who is no relation to the new chairman of the council.
The full article contains 438 words and appears in OS-Midhurst Observer newspaper.
