BELOIT — The West Branch Board of Education Thursday prepared for its upcoming annual organizational meeting.

The board voted unanimously to set its annual organizational meeting for 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 8, an hour earlier than the board’s usual 5:30 p.m. meeting time. Board Member Bryan Hobbins nominated Debbie Helm to serve as board president pro-tempore to run that meeting until the new board officers are selected. The motion was seconded by Board Vice-President Joe Courtwright and unanimously approved.

The board also voted to employ James Helm as a Community Liaison Consultant at the district’s consultant rate for the 2026 school year, with all board members, except for Helm who abstained, voting in favor. Treasurer Adam Fisher said that the hire had previously been approved by consent action in the board’s August meeting in error. He explained that it should have been removed from the consent agenda so Helm could abstain from the vote, and that the hire had been placed on December’s agenda so the mistake could be corrected.

“That should have been taken out of the consent agenda so Ms. Helm could abstain, but we missed it. So, our attorney said that we could re-vote on it tonight and be good to go,” said Fisher.

The board also thanked High School Principal Brian Coffee for serving as superintendent pro tempore since the district announced on Dec. 3 that Superintendent Micki Egli would be retiring on Feb. 1 and would be on leave until it took effect. Board President Mikki Kanagy championed Coffee’s abilities and dedication to the district in juggling both position for the last two weeks prior to the appointment of Matt Manley as superintendent pro-tempore that evening.

“The board would like to thank Mr. Coffee for stepping into this temporary role. It was a big task to ask of him to continue to lead the high school and step into this role and you’ve done a great job. It was definitely not a small task and we’re very grateful for your leadership, especially during this transition,” said Kanagy.

Kanagy also thanked Fisher for his own efforts to maintain continuity for the district in collaboration with Coffee.

“Mr. Fisher also stepped up. I think I’ve talked to [him] more in the last two weeks than we’ve talked in three years. Your extra time and effort in the last few weeks definitely have not gone unnoticed. We appreciate everything you’re doing and our district is very fortunate to have you both,” said Kanagy.

Other matters approved included setting compensation for board members for 2026 at $100 per meeting, including the Mahoning County board meeting, for up to 20 meetings; and the renewal of the board’s annual membership to the Ohio School Boards Association and its Legal Assistance Fund membership 2026.

The meeting also featured comments from the West Branch Education Association (WBEA), the union which represents the district’s teachers, which thanked Egli for her service to the district and wished her a happy retirement. The WBEA also welcomed Manley back to the district as superintendent pro-tempore.

“We want to thank Ms. Egli for the time she was here. We enjoyed working with her; we didn’t always see eye to eye, but we enjoyed working with her and got along fairly well. So, we hope that she enjoys her retirement,” said West Branch Education Association Certified President Candy Rockwell. “We want to welcome Mr. Manley. The union is so stoked about you coming onboard, and we want you to know that. But we have a couple of requests. We want you to listen to our opinions, meet us half-way, treat us with respect, treat our time with respect, and finally, rock and roll Mr. Manley,” said Rockwell.

The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss the employment of a public official with no action to follow.

The board of education will meet next at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 for its annual organizational meeting.

mahart@mojonews.com