The West Branch school board honored eight retiring staff and faculty members at its May meeting. (Photo courtesy the West Branch Local Schools)

BELOIT – The West Branch school board approved several personnel moves as well as recognizing eight retiring staff/faculty members at its May meeting.

The board recognized retirees Transportation Supervisor Jody Edie, aide Michelle Esterle, Athletic Director Mike Helm, third-grade teacher Natela Martig, transportation secretary and cashier Karen Sanor, middle school foods staff member Heidi Shreve, high school math teacher Regina Solak and aide Dorothy Wartluft. The board also recognized Smith Landscaping for decades of continued support of the district.

Under personnel, the board accepted the resignations of bus driver Billy Ray, intervention specialist McKenzie Veauthier, high school science teacher Davida Wagner, high school science teacher Kristen Tice, Director of Special Services Lindsey Szymanski, instrumental music/band instructor Lauren Stitle, educational aide Mathew Galchick and first-grade teacher Stephanie Chiaro; as well as the supplemental resignations of Jennifer (Sis) Woods as head girls softball coach, Cheyenne Heath and Maddie Pidgeon as assistant girls softball coaches and Rachelle Ring as middle school Power of the Pen advisor.

Additionally, the board granted continuing contracts to teachers Frank Edie, Tonya Edie and Tina McMullen; hired Maria Pizzulo (Jarvis) as an intervention specialist for the 2024-2025 school year; hired for the summer Brennan Wallace, Jacob Davis Felicia Bonar and LilyAnn Bonar as custodians, Bridget Scofinsky as STEM Camp instructor, Cherly Libb as STEM Camp assistant instructor, Heather McMasters as Early Learning Center transition program teacher, Samantha Hofman as speech and language pathologist and Vicky Cosma as Early Learning Center program parapro. The board also approved the success by Six program, pending sufficient enrollment, Robert Graham as administrator; Karen Coffee, Amanda Lamancusa and Jorri Zmuda as teachers, Kim Sabatine as secretary and Patti Flickinger as aide.

The board also approved the following supplemental contracts, pending sufficient enrollment: Bob Shepherd, Ken Harris, Shawn Alazaus, Carl Davanzo and Cameron Martig as varsity football assistants; Nick Cooper and Chris Thomas as co-varsity football assistants; Paul Hostetter for freshman football; Anthony Lucente and Chris Yannon for eighth-grade football; Chris Dorris and Chris Adams for seventh-grade football; Mike Painter, Brock Hillyer and Alek Wilson as football volunteers; Falon Brill and Kaley Davis as varsity volleyball assistants; Sis Woods for eighth-grade volleyball; Vallie Teague as varsity cross country assistant; Darleen Martin for middle school cross country; Molly Daley for junior varsity girls soccer; and Mike Falasca as varsity boys golf assistant.

Also at the meeting, the board acknowledged the 2024-2025 mascots Warrior Chief Walker Poorbaugh, Assistant Chief Luke Fye and Warrior Princess Kiera Pence; and accepted donations of $500 from Damascus Methodist Church to the High School Principal’s Fund, $50 from Rocky’s Sebring Inc. to FFA and $2,298 to the middle school playground from Danny’s Cans-Gaga Pit Mat.

The next board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 20 in the high school media center.