In the photo is Ethan Umstead, second from left, who was one of three Wetzel County students presented a citation from the board of education May 3 for winning the coveted Golden Horseshoe award. Ethan attends Long Drain School and is pictured with, from left, County Superintendent of Schools Bill Jones, his parents, Rhonda and William Kuhn, and Long Drain School Principal Paul Huston.

Three Wetzel County students were recognized May 3 by the board of education for receiving the prestigious Golden Horseshoe award, given for exceptional knowledge of West Virginia history and culture.

Aaruran Chandraesekhar of New Martinsville School, Nicholas McCardle of Short Line School, and Ethan Umstead of Long Drain School, along with their parents and school principals, received citations from County Superintendent Bill Jones.

“This award,” said Jones, “is coveted by many, but received by very few.” The three were among 200 eighth grade students from all 55 counties that also were recognized by the state board of education May 1. The Golden Horseshoe award has origins of more than 300 years ago, even before West Virginia became a state.

Jones announced that six other students were winners in the West Virginia PTA Cultural Arts Contest. Those individuals and their competitions were LDS students Cole Henderson, first place in primary music; Hannah Hostutler, first place, intermediate music; Antwinette Fox, third place, intermediate music; and Dusty Longwell, third place in junior high music.

Henderson and Hostutler’s compositions have been sent on to compete at the national level.

Aauran Chandraesekhar, an eighth grader at New Martinsville School, received a citation May 3 from the Wetzel County Board of Education for receiving the Golden Horseshoe award for exceptional knowledge of West Virginia history. He and two other Wetzel County students were three of 200 students from around the state to receive the award. Others in the photo, from left, are his father, Dr. Subramaniyam Chandraesekhar, Aauran, NMS Principal Fay Shank, and Wetzel County Superintendent of Schools Bill Jones.

In addition, two Hundred High School students placed in the high school literature division. They were Aubrey Greathouse, second place; and Kayla Philburn, third place.

Turning to personnel and staffing issues, the board recalled Mary M. Melott from the Reduction-in-Force list and assigned her as kindergarten teacher at SLS for the 2010-11 school year.

At Valley High School, the board approved the employment of Tara R. Adams as half-time social studies teacher and Jeanne L. Fox to the same position at Paden City High School. Fox also was approved as countywide substitute teacher, effective May 4.

At Paden City Elementary School, the board changed Betty L. Wilson’s assignment from first grade teacher to kindergarten for next year.

At NMS, Aaron E. Vigliotti’s assignment for next year was changed from MI/LD/BD teacher to third grade and Cynthia S. Weber was reassigned from the third grade to the second grade.

The Board of Education May 3 recognized Nicholas McCardle, second from left, of Short Line School and two other Wetzel County students for having received the Golden Horseshoe award for their masterful knowledge of West Virginia history. Also in the photo are, from left, County Superintendent of Schools Bill Jones, Nicholas, his parents Dennis and Patti Jo McCardle, and SLS Principal Jane Beckett. (Photos by Bill Abraham)

Brian L. Lemasters was approved for employment as half-time mechanic assistant on a 261-day contract at the bus garage. He retains his status as half-time substitute mechanic.

Meanwhile, the board approved a change in assignment for Ralph A. Myers from mechanic assistant to bus operator on bus #12 for the Traders Run/Stout Run/Fallen Timber/Arches Fork bus route. That change is effective Aug. 18 of this year.

In addition, the route was changed for Evan M. Jobes from Traders Run/Stout Run/Fallen Timber/Arches Fork to bus #10 on the Coburn/Big Run/North Fork/Town Hill route, effective in the 2010-11 school year.

An out-of-state trip request was approved for Sue Villers to attend the annual Conference for Truancy and Dropout Prevention in Chicago, Sept. 26-30, paid from Title II funds.

A trip also was approved for Steven Jones to take PCHS band students to Fort Rapids Indoor Water Amusement Park in Columbus June 10. The trip will be funded by student fees and the band patrons.

Jeanine Watson will take four to six HHS band students to Costa Rica over spring break, in April 2011. The trip will be paid via student fees and fund raisers.

The board approved a request from Deanne Henry and Myra Meko for their children to attend PCES in the 2010-11 school year. Both requests are pending release from Tyler County schools.

The board also approved a request from Mindy Mall for two school busses and operators to transport 4-H youth to and from various schools in the county to the 4-H camp June 13-18. Expenses will be paid by 4-H leaders.

The board’s next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m., May 17, where the proposed budget will be voted on and new members of the 25-Year Club will be inducted. The board also has a meeting set for June 7 at 6:30 p.m., that will include recognition of 2009-10 retirees.