Mike Spence has taken over as the new president of the Bainbridge Island School Board.

The school board approved a new slate of officers at its last meeting in August.

Spence, a District 2 director, replaces Patty Fielding as president.

Fielding said Spence’s more active role on the island made her think about her transition from the post of board president.

“It’s really been a privilege,” Fielding said, but she added it was time for a change.

“You’ve left some very big shoes to fill. I anticipate talking to you regularly,” Spence said.

“Don’t go anywhere, please,” he quipped.

In his first official act as president, Spence made a minor alteration to the meeting agenda so he could present Fielding with a souvenir gavel.

“Patty sort of steered the ship through the rocks. I appear to have a little bit of clear water coming in the distance,” Spence said.

He pulled a second gavel out of a cardboard box and handed it to School Board Member Mary Curtis, a previous board president who joined the board in 2005 and was re-elected for a second term in November 2009.

In the new officer assignments, Curtis will continue as vice president of the board.