NEW CUMBERLAND — Monday’s meeting of the Hancock County Board of Education focused heavily on personnel matters.

Jennifer Marchese, director of personnel, led Monday’s meeting in place of Superintendent Walter Saunders, who joined by telephone. She reminded those in attendance that all matters listed on the agenda had been reviewed and approved by the West Virginia Superintendent of Schools.

She explained that following various moves within the Hancock County Schools personnel structure, including a series of reductions in force and transfers to address ongoing financial concerns, as well as previous resignations, several positions are now vacant.

“We are in the process of posting positions,” Marchese said, asking for patience while the state and district go through the process. “Jobs have to be posted for a certain number of days.”

Monday’s agenda included a series of resignations from the district, as well as reassignments.

Those included the resignations of Kasey Arnott as maintenance director; Thomas L. Williams as Weir Middle band director/music; Wendy Zinn as Oak Glen High band/music; McClay Toomey as New Manchester Elementary pre-K, all effective June 30; and Barbara Settle, substitute teacher, effective May 26.

Resignations also included Jerry Everly as Oak Glen High basketball coach; Kristin Bowman-Cross as Weir High Dance Club co-sponsor; Clayton Flowers as Oak Glen High archery coach; Vance Miller as Weir High assistant football coach; Scott Cook as Weir Middle boys basketball coach; and Matt Cashdollar as Oak Glen Middle boys basketball coach.

Assignments were approved for Lynn Shilot as itinerant school nurse based at A.T. Allison and New Manchester elementary schools; Kasey Nicholas as itinerant school nurse based at Weir Middle and Weir High; and Carolyn Book as itinerant school nurse based at Oak Glen Middle and Oak Glen High; Sydney Doughty as band/music at Oak Glen High; Scott Wiley as assistant principal at Weir High; Kelly Lawton as head principal at Weir Middle; Karman Gregory as physical education at New Manchester; Hayley Yeater as special education at Allison Elementary; Derrick Stickles as head football coach at Oak Glen High; Joseph Petrovich as assistant football coach at Weir High; and Gary Gamble as volunteer football coach at Oak Glen Middle.

The classifications for 35 county bus drivers were adjusted to a “D” pay scale as seven-hour operators, effective with the 2026-2027 school year.

“These are reclassifications of the bus drivers,” Marchese said, explaining the positions had been placed on a pay scale that did not meet existing policy.

RIFs and transfers were rescinded for Phil Taylor as counselor at New Manchester; Carrie Six as counselor at Allison; Monica Martich as assistant principal at Weirton Elementary; Michelle McHaffie as assistant principal at Oak Glen High; Ashley Orwasky as Title I at Weirton Elementary; Nicole Seckman as grade 6 at Weir Middle; Garrett Railing as social studies at Weir High; Keith Brammer as social studies at Weir Middle; Sheena Camerlengo as special education at Weirton Elementary; and Mary Lyons as county nurse supervisor.

Other rescinded RIFs or transfers include Paulayne Hostetler, Denise Hayes and Jo Lynn Mark.

Resignations for classified employees include Bobbie Kompardo from the maintenance department, effective June 8; Jeffrey Lamp from the maintenance department, effective June 30; and Isaac Ritchie, substitute custodian, effective June 20.

Marchese recognized the retirement of Sara Swiger as cafeteria manager at Oak Glen Middle, effective June 25.

Transfers approved included Beverly Dawson to secretary III in the transportation department; Jo Lynn Mark to secretary III at Weir High; Brian Sweeney to bus operator 154; Louann Swiger to bus operator 197; and Penny Ellis to bus operator 208, with assignments including Jamie Jenkins and Jodi Davis to mid-day run south routes and Betty Dennis and Joslyn Risk to mid-day run north routes.