New Brooke school official hired by board

WELLSBURG - A school official who will oversee the use of federal funds and technology in Brooke County schools was among many hired by the county school board on Monday.

Rhonda Combs will serve as the school district's director of federal programs, technology and pre-kindergarten to fifth-grade curriculum following the board's approval.

Her hiring was supported by board members Jim Piccirillo, Brian Ferguson and Jim Lazear and opposed by board member Frank Ujcich, who said he believes someone with more experience with computer hardware should have been hired.

But Superintendent Kathy Kidder-Wilkerson said Combs will serve well in the position, which involves applying for and overseeing the use of federal Title I funds awarded for additional reading and math instruction and staff development at schools that serve many households with low income.

She also will be responsible for aiding schools in the use of computers, the Internet and other technology and meeting educational goals set for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Kidder-Wilkerson said the new position reflects a re-assigning of responsibilities at the school board office. Combs will assume the duties of Michael Ferrell, who served as federal programs director until his retirement in June, and the technology aspect of the facilities supervisor position held by Marty Bartz.

Bartz was promoted to assistant superintendent in June. But Kidder-Wilkerson said the school district had benefited from Bartz's experience in building construction, so it was decided to have him continue to oversee the county's school buildings and grounds as assistant superintendent.

Kidder-Wilkerson said Bartz's duties as attendance director, which involves improving students' attendance at school, have been assigned to Valerie Smith, the school district's director of student services.

Smith in turn had her responsibilities of overseeing curriculum for all grades split with Combs, so that Smith will be handling grades sixth through 12, she said.

The school board also approved the hiring of Karen Delatore as head cheering coach at Wellsburg Middle School; Carla Stone, English teacher, Brooke High School; Ronald Javorsky, assistant volleyball coach, Wellsburg Middle School; Nathan Marshall, language arts, speech and theater instructor, high School; Susan Giesmann, science teacher, high school; Scott Joseph, Thomas Fetty III, Stuart Goldstein, George W. Laase III and Terry Rea Jr., assistant football coaches, high school; Edward Fritz, head cross country coach, high school; Donald Cozad, assistant boys soccer coach, high school; Zak Harvey, assistant football coach, Wellsburg Middle; Daniel Cooper, head football coach, Follansbee Middle; Ralph Smith, assistant golf coach, high school; and 95 substitute teachers.

The board also approved the transfers of Tom Bruney as a special education teacher at the high school's alternative learning center to an alternative education and conflict management teaching position at the school; Amy Talbott from an eighth-grade science teacher at Wellsburg Middle to sixth-grade science teacher there; Rhonda Boley from secretary at Hooverson Heights Primary School to secretary at high school; and Magdalene Sacker from aide and autism mentor at Wellsburg Primary to kindergarten aide at Jefferson Primary.

Resignations were accepted from Penny Hazelip-Olmstead, special education instructor at the high school; Matt Moore, tool technology teacher, high school; and Karen Biela, a first-grade teacher at Colliers Primary, following a three-month medical leave.

The board also accepted a bid of $249,318 from Chartis for workers' compensation coverage for its employees from Aug. 1 through June 30, and the removal and replacement of two submersible pumps at the Brooke County school bus garage by Reliable Construction Services at a cost of $11,877.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)