CENTENARY — A pair of teachers who each have at least a decade’s worth of service under their belts with the Gallipolis City School District have been elevated to administrative positions. The board of education voted unanimously on Wednesday to appoint Beth Covey to the position of director of curriculum and instruction and Josh Donley to the role of assistant principal at Gallia Academy High School.

Covey has been a teacher in the city school district for 10 years, the first six at GAHS and the last four in the gifted program. She will replace Debbie Queen, who is retiring at the end of the 2009-2010 academic year. Covey was given a 2-year contract, effective July 22, 2010. She is married to Paul Covey, who is director of the O.O. McIntyre Park District.

Donley has served as a teacher in the district for 11 years, teaching social studies at both the junior high and high school levels. He joins new principal Tim Massie at GAHS. Donley was given a 2-year contract, effective July 22, 2010. He and his wife have three children.

The board accepted both Covey’s and Donley’s resignations from their teaching positions, but not their continuing contracts.

A new fine arts class will be offered at GAHS after getting the nod from the school board on Wednesday. Technical Theatre, according to Superintendent Jack Payton, will be taught by Marilyn Wills. The class includes a study of the elements of stagecraft, lighting design, audio production and theater safety related to stage and theatrical productions. The full-year course will count as one fine arts/elective credit.

Payton said the new fine arts facilities at GAHS provided the opportunity to provide expanded educational offerings for students and that Wills met with district staff to establish requirements and a course description or the new class.

In other personnel moves, the board renewed the following certified personnel contracts:

• Gallia Academy High School — Lynne Allen, Douglas Dunn, Mike Eddy, Diane Hamilton, Joshua Riffe, Cheryl Sheard, Andy Sigman and Scott Stanley.

• Gallia Academy Middle School — Lisa Jo Blakeman, Jared Denney, Larry Haley, Lori Hayes and Trevor Shafer.

• Green Elementary School — Corey Luce and Abigail Rees.

• Green/Rio — Susan Beman.

• Preschool — Meghan Shafer and Demara Smith.

• Rio Grande Elementary School — Heather Costa, Jessica Myers, Bethany Simmons and Pam Wiseman.

• Washington Elementary School — Jason Kunk and Shannon Mayes.

The board accepted the following resignations, effective May 28, 2010:

• Ann Caldwell — retirement

• Joyce Huff — no reason listed

• Donna Martin — retirement

• Karen Neal — retirement

The board voted to employ Debbie Hughes on an as-needed basis in the treasurer’s office for the remainder of 2010 at the 2009 tutorial rate.

The following substitutes were approved for the 2009-2010 school year:

• Timothy Atha — courier, custodian, maintenance

• Larry Groves — cook, custodian

• Tami Hawk — aide

• Paul Shaffer — custodian, maintenance

• Paula Williams-Wray — secretary

The board voted approve a supplemental contract for Tom Moore to serve as varsity boys basketball coach for the 2010-2011 school year. Moore will replace longtime boys basketball coach Jim Osborne, whose supplemental contract for coaching was not renewed along with all other supplemental contracts, all certified and classified substitute personnel and extended service time of staff during Wednesday’s board meeting.

The board also accepted the supplemental contract resignation of Winston Saunders as seventh grade head football coach.

The school board voted to approve revised job descriptions for the following positions: assistant high school principal, director of communications, director of curriculum and instruction and director of special education.

The school board approved stipends for teachers who participate in local professional development activities during the months of June and August 2010. The stipends were set at the tutorial rate, not to exceed $528 per person and will be paid for through Title IIA, Title I, Title I ARRA and IDEA funds.

The board accepted $500 donations from American Electric Power and the Gallia County Charitable Foundation that will benefit the middle school library.

In matters related to construction projects in the district, the board approved extending the 60-day time period to award and execute a contract pursuant to the Washington Elementary School masonry project and also approved 22 change orders related to work at various sites around the district.

The board also approved a revision to the advertising agreement with Farmer’s Bank regarding signage at the new tennis courts and softball field at GAHS. The revision added the signage rights at the softball field. The contract calls for Farmer’s Bank to pay $30,000 to the district for the advertising rights.

The board approved a resolution acknowledging May 2-8, 2010, as Teacher Appreciation Week and May 4, 2010, as Teacher Appreciation Day in the district.