POINT PLEASANT — Dr. William Capehart of Point Pleasant has been named the new superintendent of Mason County Schools.

During Tuesday’s meeting, members of the Mason County Board of Education unanimously approved Capehart to serve in the leadership position beginning July 1. Capehart’s contract is for two years and will expire June 30, 2011.

Capehart currently serves as the executive director of exceptional children programs in Mason County. He is a graduate professor of education at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and was a graduate professor of education and curriculum at Marshall University Graduate College. He also is a former superintendent of Boyd County Schools in Ashland, Ky., and once served as superintendent in Mason County.

Board members extended their congratulations to Capehart and said they look forward to working with him.

“We feel like we’ve got the right person for the job,” said Teresa Warner, board vice president. “I think we’ll make a great team.”

Board member Matt Thompson echoed Warner’s sentiments, saying he was confident in Capehart’s abilities to lead the school system.

Capehart said he was honored by the board’s decision and that he plans to continue working with the board to provide a successful learning environment for students.

“I’ll give you my best,” he told board members after the announcement.

Capehart will assume the position being vacated by current Superintendent Dr. Larry Parsons, who earlier this year was appointed by the West Virginia State Board of Education to be the superintendent of Preston County after the state board took over that system. According to the state board’s Web site, an audit of Preston County Schools found that students were not being provided with a thorough and efficient system as provided by law, including limited financial resources, deteriorating school buildings and a lack of leadership.

Other candidates applying for the position were Sandra Angius of Sissonville, Stephen Kingery of Scott Depot, Irene C. Murphy of Ravenswood, Dr. Douglas Sturgeon of Ashton, Thomas R. Tull of Scott Depot and Rebecca Zuspan of Mason.

(Additional details of Tuesday’s meeting will be featured in an upcoming edition of the Point Pleasant Register.)