David Sulzen is the new chairman of the Floyd County School Board, replacing Doug Phillips, who ended an 18-year-reign over the county’s educational system.

Phillips, who remains on the school board, nominated Sulzen as his replacement.

The board also elected Clay Link as vice chair.

Phillips leaves the chairmanship after a year of controversy that led to the early retirement of longtime superintendent Terry Arbogast, who came under fire for concealing a pay increase for himself and a general lack of candor over budget questions raised by the board of supervisors.

Some in the community felt Phillips gave Arbogast too much control over the school system with too little oversight by the school board.