WALHALLA — The Oconee County School Board has decided to discontinue its road tour.

After six years of holding work sessions throughout the county, board Chairman Andy Inabinet said that trustees will meet twice a month in the district office on Pine Street.

“This is a little more centrally located,” Inabinet said.

The first Tuesday work sessions have been held at various schools in the Seneca, Walhalla, Westminster, Oakway-Fair Play and Tamassee-Salem attendance areas. A different school site was selected each month, the idea being that road meetings would produce a greater turnout from each community.

But, board members say small turnouts and the hardship imposed on principals and teachers in closing up schools after hours necessitated the change. The board also changed its meeting time to 6 p.m. in an effort to accommodate those attending Oconee County Council meetings, held at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

“If we don’t have the meetings here, we’re being contradictory on what we said a few meetings ago when we discussed moving school board meetings to accommodate County Council meetings,” said Rosemary Bailes, who represents the Walhalla area.

Inabinet said the change would have no impact on visits to the schools by board members.

“We visit, as we can, during the day,” Inabinet said.

The board said any change in meeting location necessitated by an issue of widespread interest would be advertised well in advance.