Governor, State Chief Gain More Power in Ga.

Georgia Gov. Zell Miller will take control of a key state education program and state schools Superintendent Linda Schrenko will gain new powers under legislation passed this month.

Under the bill, the state will set up a new office of school preparedness--headed by an official appointed by Gov. Miller--to run a lottery-funded pre-kindergarten program. That program is now managed by Ms. Schrenko's education department and several other state agencies.

Ms. Schrenko, in turn, will gain the power to hire her top five officials and award outside contracts...