Dr. Ethel Lassiter will take over as principal for K-4 students at Dana Road this fall, Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Dr. James Price announced Thursday.

Lassiter, assistant principal, will replace Judy Monroe, who is retiring in June. Price expressed his appreciation for Monroe and the dozens of people who applied for the position.

&#8220Thank you for the opportunity,” Lassiter told trustees of the district who met Thursday. &#8220It will be a challenge to maintain the high standards and reputation,” at Dana Road Elementary.

The school is a level 4 on state rankings with level 5 at the top. Dana Road Elementary and Vicksburg Intermediate are in the same building, with grades 5 and 6 in the intermediate classes.

Lassiter is the only new administrator to be hired so far for the 2007-2008 school year. Last year, 15 administrative positions were changed due to retirements and reassignments in the 9,200-student consolidated district.

In other action at the meeting, the trustees voted to allow Price to solicit bids to fill the district’s 12,000-gallon diesel fuel storage tank on Mississippi 27.

&#8220We do not anticipate that we will receive any,” bids said Price. Because the contract would be for 12 months, it’s unlikely that a fuel supplier would want to be locked into a contract, Price said. However, bids must be solicited to comply with state purchasing requirements. Price said the tank is installed and ready for use.

It was bought in an effort to save money by buying in bulk. All the district’s buses operate on diesel fuel.

If there are no bids received by the closing date in about two weeks, Price said the district can ask for two price quotes instead.

Separately, Price reported to the board that the addition to Redwood Elementary school should be completed in three weeks.

In addition, the board also: