Wetzel County Superintendent of Schools Bill Jones told the board of education Monday that the West Virginia School Building Authority has approved an $833,000 HVAC project for Long Drain School, similar to that at New Martinsville School. The project requires a 10 percent match of county funds school funds.

Jones also reported that Climatech of Pittsburgh was the apparent low bidder among five others on the New Martinsville School HVAC project. The firm’s bid was just over $1 million for the project that is expected to be completed by the beginning of the 2010-11 school year.

Climatech is a climate-related mechanical contracting firm with offices in Pittsburgh and Florida.

In an atypically short agenda, board members received annually-required conflict-of-interest declarations to sign and approved several staffing and personnel changes.

Gregory M. Bayes, Jeremy B. Kelch, Christopher S. Shriver, and Stacey C. Wise were employed as countywide substitute teachers. Kelch and Wise’s positions are non-certified.

The board authorized a change in the bus route for operator Douglas A. Bucher from Mobley/North Fork/Four Mile/Barker on bus #16, to Eight Mile/Furbee Ridge/Brush Run/Crow’s Run aboard bus #38.

The board also upgraded the employment of Ralph A. Myers to full-time mechanic assistant at the bus garage on a 228-day contract. Roger L. Hindman was changed from custodian III at Magnolia High School to the same position at NMS, also on a 228-day contract.

Linda J. Haught and Leslie A. Lively were approved as co-athletic directors at Short Line School, while Velisha I. Shepherd was approved as the school’s 7/8 grade girls’ track coach.

At Valley High School, Debra D. Kocher was employed as head girls’ track coach for the 2009-10 WVSSAC season and Lorne K. Sine was approved as eighth grade girls’ basketball coach at Paden City High School.

Before adjourning, the board scheduled 2010-11 reduction-in-force hearings for 6 p.m., Jan. 11 at the county office building, 333 Foundry St., New Martinsville.