|Photo by Joselyn King| New Ohio County Board of Education members Anne Hercules, left, and Bernie Albertini celebrate after being sworn into office Monday.

WHEELING – Bernie Albertini and Anne Hercules are now officially members of the Ohio County Board of Education, which also saw a change Monday in who serves as board president.

Albertini and Hercules were sworn in to office Monday morning by Ohio County Circuit Judge David Sims. Immediately following the ceremony, the board sat down for its reorganization meeting to select a president. In his first action, Albertini moved to nominate member David Croft as board president, and this was seconded by member Molly Aderholt.

The motion passed 5-0 with Croft, Albertini, Aderholt, Hercules and past board president Andy Garber all voting in favor. Croft served in the role for the two years prior to Garber’s term.

Croft said he appreciates the board’s unanimous consent in returning as president.

“I look forward to working with the board over the next two years,” he said. “Hopefully it will be a good couple of years during which we can focus on education stuff. Ohio County Schools has a really bright future.”

Garber explained he wasn’t voting against himself as president with his vote Monday morning, but was instead casting a “yes” for Croft in the role.

“I served my two years,” he said. “If after two years someone else is interested in taking over as president, why not?”

Garber noted the board president “basically runs the meetings.”

“You have a say on the agenda, and you work and communicate with the superintendent,” he said. “The best thing about being board president is when you see the kids get recognized, and we are recognizing the positive things that happen in the school district. In my mind, that’s an important part of being on the board.”

Hercules, 68, was hired in 1981 as a custodian, and 41 years later she retired as coordinator for custodial services in the school district.

“I’m very excited to continue with the board of education and Ohio County Schools’ children,” she said. “It’s like being a stepmother. We’re in charge of all these students and making sure they have a good life and good careers in their future.”

She isn’t certain yet what issues are facing the school district, and which she will find the most important.

“The most important thing is the children, and getting them their education,” Hercules continued. “I hope they have fun doing it, that their lifetime in Ohio County Schools is memorable, and that they’re able to get a good job.”

Albertini, 58, serves as administrator and chief operating officer at East Ohio Regional Hospital.

“You spend the first half of your life building your family and career,” he said. “The second half, you have to go out and serve the community and do well for humanity.

“For me, this is a chance to serve the community that I’ve grown up in, my kids have grown up in, and where I’ve supported my family. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Albertini indicated he also wants to sit down and familiarize himself with the details of issues presently facing the school district. But he added he has been following recent discussion about cellphone policy in the schools.

“I’m personally in favor of a cellphone ban,” Albertini said. “I think it hinders education, so during times of instruction there is no need to have a cellphone in the classroom.”

Hercules agreed that cellphones shouldn’t be used while instruction is happening in the classroom.

“It has been going on for many years now, and I think it’s great we are going to address this and hopefully come to a solution,” she said. “They are really not needed in the school area. The students need their education more than their cellphones.”