Three new members joined the West Branch Board of Education and took their oath of office during the board’s first meeting of 2026 Thursday. Shown from left are Board President Debbie Helm, Board Member Mikki Kanagy, Treasurer Adam Fisher, Superintendent Pro-Tempore Matt Manley, Board Vice President Peggy Shaver, and Board Members Penny DeShields and Tonya Dean. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

BELOIT — The board of education reorganized in its first meeting of the year Thursday.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Debbie Helm to serve as board president for 2026. Helm was nominated by 2025 Board Vice-President Mikki Kanagy, and with the nomination being seconded by Board Member Peggy Shaver. Helm will be joined as a board officer by Shaver, who was nominated for vice president by Board Member Penny DeShields with the nomination being seconded by Kanagy and unanimously approved. Treasurer Adam Fisher will continue to serve as both Records Officer and the board designee for public records training.

The board will be meeting slightly later in the evening in 2026, voting unanimously to begin meeting at 6 p.m. in 2026, 30 minutes later than its prior 5:30 p.m. start time. The board will meet on Jan. 29, Feb. 19, and March 19, and will meet on the third Monday of the month for the remainder of the year beginning in April. Superintendent Pro Tempore Matt Manley said the district will publish its 2026 meeting schedule on its website to ensure the meeting dates are clear.

Kanagy asked Manley if there were any law firms that he would like to be added to the district’s typical list of approved firms which include: Ennis Britton Company LPA, Roetzel and Andress, Bricker Graydon LLP, and Pepple & Waggoner Limited. Manley said that he was comfortable working with the current firms, and the board voted unanimously to approve the retention of those firms as independent legal counsel in educational matters on an as needed basis.

The board also approved the resignation of Maintenance Supervisor Matt Bratcher effective immediately, and his rehire as a custodian effective Jan. 9, and the appointment of Doug Kress as interim maintenance supervisor effective Jan. 9.

The board also approved several routine items including: establishing a $15,000 service fund for the board for 2026; authorization for Manley to fill all vacancies, serve as purchasing agent for the district, and dispose of obsolete equipment and materials as required; and authorization for Fisher to secure needed tax advances, invest funds, obtain amended certificates and pay bills, make fund to fund transfers and advances and advance returns throughout the fiscal year with board approval at its monthly meetings.

Manley thanked the community members in attendance for coming to the meeting, which he said was “a new beginning” for the district.

“We know we have some work to do. I’ve met with every board member individually. Mr. Fisher and I have got some work to do for trust, for competency, and for the love of our kids. We know our newest board members will be going through training in the months of January and February on their roles and responsibilities and we are looking forward to working together with our students, staff, and our community members, and always keeping the children first,” said Manley.

The meeting concluded with an executive session to consider negotiations for economic development assistance with no action to follow.

The board of education will meet next at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29.

mahart@mojonews.com