NEW CUMBERLAND — The Hancock County Board of Education met in a special session Monday afternoon, to address a few final personnel and budgetary items before the end of the fiscal year.

Among actions was the unanimous approval of the creation of a Coordinator of Transportation position within the school district.

The new position is part of adjustment plans in the school district’s Transportation Department.

“There’s a retirement over there,” noted Superintendent Dan Enich, referring to the retirement of Tom Gruda as operations chief. “This position will take that position’s place.”

Assistant Superintendent Dave Smith explained further, saying the new position will take on a more administrative role, including stepping in during instances where Transportation Director Mark Dziatkowicz is unavailable.

“It’s was a service personnel position,” Smith said. “We want to make it a professional position.”

The coordinator of transportation position would have a 260-day contract.

Enich said a proposal to eliminate the operations chief post will be presented to the school board in July.

Also Monday, the board agreed to appoint Jim Chappell to serve as clerk of the works on the Oak Glen Middle pyrite remediation project.

“The clerk of the works is our eyes and ears on the project,” Enich said, explaining having the position is a requirement from the West Virginia School Building Authority, which provided funding toward the project.

It was noted Chappell is a Hancock County Schools retiree, having previously worked as a welding instructor.

Pay for the position will come through a mixture of SBA-provided funds and revenue from the bond levy approved by voters last fall.

At Enich’s recommendation, a proposed bid for metal detectors – funding for which also would come from the levy – was pulled, with the submitted bids rejected and the board agreeing to rebid the project.

The board approved a bid of $89,643 for the purchase of three vehicles from Tri-State Ford. One of the vehicles will replace an existing car used in the Drivers’ Education program, while the other two will be used by district administrators.

Several personnel assignments and adjustments also were made Monday, including:

The assignments of Megan Russell as kindergarten, Weirton Elementary; Deanna Marsh, third grade interventionist, Weirton Elementary; Amy Matask, multi-categorical/autism, Weirton Elementary; Isabella Forget, third grade teacher Weirton Elementary; Janet Arehart, math teacher Oak Glen High; Stephanie Fidak, multi-categorical/autism Oak Glen Middle; Nancy D’Angelo, physical education Weir Middle; Mary Beth Daas, multi-categorical/autism Oak Glen High, all effective Aug. 18;

Summer School Program assignments of Bailey Rinkes, second grade, Allison Elementary; and Deanna Marsh, Itinerant Title 1, Allison Elementary and New Manchester Elementary; from Aug. 1 to Aug. 15;

The substitute assignment of Kelsie Roberts, effective Aug. 22;

The transfer of Cathy Cekinovich to third grade interventionist at Weirton Elementary; Kamryn Bable to first grade teacher at Allison Elementary; McKayla Goodlin to fourth grade teacher at New Manchester Elementary; Jacquelyn Eddins to grade 7 social studies teacher at Weir Middle; Natalie Simich to second grade teacher at Weirton Elementary; and Denise Roberts to multi-categorical/autism at Oak Glen High;

The assignment of James “Tyler” Ossman as assistant football coach at Oak Glen High, and Lonna Flowers as an unpaid/volunteer assistant cheerleading coach at Oak Glen Middle;

The resignation of Tammy Shaw as Custodian II at Oak Glen High;

The assignment of Donald Barr as a summer mechanics helper substitute;

The transfers of Lisa Hatala to supervisory aide/ECCAT Weirton Elementary; Casie Hebrock as supervisory aide/AM Weirton Elementary; Lucia Pulice-Lenhart, supervisory aide/AM Weirton Elementary; Kelsey Cole, supervisory aide/AM Weirton Elementary; Meredith Adams, supervisory aide/AM Allison Elementary; Rabeka Rowland, supervisory aide/ECCAT/AM Weirton Elementary; Thanachakorn Boehm, supervisory aide/AM Weir Middle; Barbara Swan, supervisory aide/ECCAT New Manchester Elementary; and Jill Swan, Cook III Central Kitchen.

chowell@weirtondailytimes.com