Magnolia High School’s track team was recognized Monday by the Wetzel County Board of Education for winning the Class AA State Championship.

At the Wetzel County Board of Education meeting held June 20 the board began with recognizing the Magnolia High School Blue Eagles Boys’ Track Team for their successful season and their title as this year’s Class AA State Champions. “We are so proud of the accomplishments that you young men have made for us in the county,” Superintendent Bill Jones said to the team.

Coach Matt Quinet noted that unlike many track teams, no individual carried the team.

“The team won every single invitational and meet as a team,” he said. “It took the whole team to win the state championship.”

In another matter the board approved a school bus bid purchase for the 2011-2012 school year. The county will purchase three 77-passenger international 2012 IC Corporation School buses, Model CE, in the amount of $273,840. The county plans to sell four or five school buses as well, noting it would cost too much to repair them.

Additionally, the board accepted the superintendent’s recommendation to not approve a request from Amanda J. Powell for her daughter, Jourdan Ashley Powell, to enroll and attend school at Hundred High School for the 2011-2012 school year.

J. Diane Watt, right, takes the oath of office as Wetzel County’s new Superintendent of Schools.

The board approved several routine matters and also approved the second reading of Wetzel County Policy GBAB: Racial, Sexual, Religious/Ethnic Harassment/Violence/Bullying Policy. The first reading was held at the June 6 regular board meeting. Also during the June 6 meeting the board approved the second reading of Wetzel County Policy GCBAB-R: Coaching Supplement and Other Regulations.

Toward the end of the meeting the board presented a plaque to Jones naming him as Superintendent Extraordinaire. Jones took a moment to again thank the board for the opportunity to work for the county. “I take a lot of pride in what we’ve done,” he said. “If we were to look at school systems across this state, we wouldn’t find a better one than we have in Wetzel County.” Jones went on to say that he felt a lot of satisfaction with the work done. “I leave with a very thankful heart,” he concluded.

Lastly, J. Diane Watt took the oath of office during the meeting on Monday night. She will take her post as superintendent beginning with the next regular meeting of the Wetzel County Board of Education scheduled for July 18 at 7 p.m. at the county office located at 333 Foundry Street, New Martinsville.