POINT PLEASANT — Dr. William Capehart was sworn in as superintendent of Mason County Schools at a special meeting of the board of education Monday.

Mason County Clerk Diana Cromley swore in Capehart, who succeeds Dr. Larry Parsons, who stepped down to become superintendent of Preston County Schools on July 1. Parsons had been local superintendent since December 1996.

Capehart was chosen to be superintendent earlier this year after Parsons accepted the state Board of Education’s invitation to take the helm in Preston County.

The board was also introduced to the system’s new special education director, Dr. Doug Sturgeon. An Ashton resident and former special needs educator in Mason County, Sturgeon has returned to the system from teaching at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College.

“Dr. Capehart has hit the ground running, and we are pleased to have him and Dr. Sturgeon with us,” board member Teresa Warner said. Warner presided over the meeting in the absence of its president, Tom Nunnery, who was on vacation at the time.

The board also approved employment of William P. Wood on a supplemental contract as boys varsity soccer coach at Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School, and Mike Wolfe on a supplemental as coach of the junior high football at Wahama Junior/Senior High School.

The board rescinded the reduction in force for Olivia Deweese, teacher MI/AU at Ashton Elementary School, Roberta Hall, sixth grade teacher at Beale Elementary School, and Debra Byus, sixth grade teacher at Ashton Elementary, because all of the positions are no longer needed to place a more senior employee.

Placement of Iva Lynette Johnson, first grade teacher at New Haven Elementary, on the transfer list for 2009-10 was rescinded because the position is no longer needed to place a more senior employee. Ceilia Harris was approved for employment as a LD/MI/BD teacher at Beale Elementary for 2009-10.

The board approved posting several positions, depending on approval of federal stimulus funding. These positions include special education teachers at Point Pleasant Primary School, Wahama High School, Hannan Junior/Senior High School and New Haven Elementary; coordinator of special education administration/program services; at the central office; compliance specialist at the central office; special education teacher for Community Based Work Experience (CBWE) at Hannan; special education aides (personal care) at PPPS and Point Pleasant Intermediate School; and special education/bus/supervisory aide at New Haven.

The board also approved posting two LD/MI/BD teachers at Wahama for 2009-10.

Out-of-state travel for Don Bower to attend the 2009 U.S. Department of Education Reading Institute in Cincinnati July 14-16 was approved, and Glen Hodges and Lloyd Holley Jr. were approved as volunteers at Hannan.

The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, July 14.