Robert W. Thomas has been named the new building trades instructor at Mathews High School, replacing Jeffrey Valdrighi, who resigned in May.

Formerly a building contractor operating in Mathews, Thomas served on the Mathews County Board of Supervisors from 1994 to 1998. He also previously served as the county’s building inspector (1976-77).

The MHS alum is probably most familiar to county residents as head coach of the school’s varsity softball team that advanced all the way to last month’s Group 1A state championship game.

Thomas’s appointment was made during a special end-of-fiscal-year meeting the Mathews County School Board held last Thursday morning in the school board conference room.

With the appointment, the only personnel vacancies remaining for the coming year include one custodial position and a couple of teacher assistants, according to assistant superintendent Lesley Hunley.

During the meeting, the school board approved a resolution asking count...