WILLIAMSON – The Mingo County school system now has two curriculum directors, Rob Bobbera and Rita Ward, who were named by the state Board of Education on County School Superintendent Dwight Dials’ recommendations.

They will be handling the duties of Deborah Harris, who retired as director of curriculum at the end of June after an enviable educational career.

Bobbera has been assigned curriculum director for grades 7 through 12. He has been a guidance counselor and administrator, associated with Gilbert High School.

Ward, whose previous teaching background was in Special Education and the Title I program, was primarily instrumental in establishing the Pre-K program for this county 10 years ago.

Bobbera and Ward are now involved in getting ready for the start of the 2009-2010 school year Aug. 26. Teachers will report two days earlier.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Randy Keathley gave a staffing update at Tuesday night’s meeting of the School Board, presided over by Vice President Jacqueling Branch and attended by board members William Duty, Dr. J.W. Endicott and Michael Carter.

“We are in better shape this year than last year so far as staffing of the schools is concerned,” said Keathley. “We have fewer English and Mathematics teaching vacancies at this time. I have received a few recommendations for employment from some of our principals.

“We are looking forward to working with our new teachers in the coming school year,” said Keatley.

Superintendent Dials noted that the Mingo County school system ranks above the state level. ‘What we have to do is figure out how we can take our schools to the next highest level and keep our students motivated.”

Robert Starr, maintenance director for the school system, gave a verbal report and video presentation as he outlined the enormous amount of cleanup work, repairs and maintenance his department has done during the summer months.

Some of the video scenes were in school buildings of Gilbert High, Gilbert Elementary, Matewan High and Lenore K-8, where flooding caused extension damage and lots of maintenance work. Some of the video showed work done inside classrooms and other photos were taken outside the buildings where new concrete sidewalks were construced.

Despite the setback from flooding in some of the school areas, the start of the new term will find clean premises for this year’s students.

With staffing in good shape, teaching personnel and instructional equipment ready, school officials feel that the new term will get underway successfully.

The local board reviewed a long personnel schedule preapproved by the state board of education (and which will be reported in a separate story); discussed the 2009-2010 projected school bus routes, and considered budget supplements and transfers and monthly financial report presented by the finance department.