001Heat. Heat. Thank you. started a lot of crap going on. intense match. >> There's no plan. I think we have a chance, but the other ones Hello. Oh, sorry. Okay. Good evening everyone. It's 6 o'clock, so we're going to go ahead and get started. And if we could start, please by the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We're going to call the meeting to order and we'll do a roll call. Treasur >> here. >> Mrs. Shaver >> here. >> Mrs. Kenny >> here. >> Mr. >> Here. >> Mrs. Dean >> here. >> Okay. On the agenda approval, we're going to upon the recommendation of the superintendent and the
002treasurer approve the consent agenda for this April 20th, 2026 board meeting. If any board member wishes to move any consent agenda items to the regular agenda for further discussion, please let it be known now. >> A second. Treasure call the role. >> Yes. do not have any visitors. WBEA comments. >> Hi, my name is Candy Rockwell. I'm the union president for the teachers. I just have a few shoutouts tonight uh that I'd like to share. Um to everyone who sat around the table right here a couple weeks ago and negotiated the teachers contract, we got it done in three sessions. And I I think you can credit that to cooperation, respect, and trust from both sides. It's been a long time since the teachers have felt that way. And I'm telling you, they feel that
003way now. That's going to make us better teachers. Okay. Um I just a couple individual ones here. Debbie Helm, our board president. Anybody that knows her knows she's like a calming effect. And she gave up work from her real job. You're retired now, right? to sit through two long sessions in the evening and then one long one on a Friday. And she helped to guide the process. I mean, and I I want you to know that you may feel like you didn't contribute. I don't know. But you were there. It was like a guiding calming force. Um, Mr. Fiser for keeping it real. Keeping it real. And Mr. Manley, well, for being Mr. Manley. um the team of teachers that I worked with, we worked tirelessly to get our proposal together and then the work
004put in pulling it all together. There was five teachers that did that and I think we did an okay job. On behalf of the teachers union, I want to thank all of you. Um I can tell you it feels good moving forward and I haven't said that. I've been here 30 years and it's been a while since I felt like I could say that. Um, being respected does make your staff better and I we feel respected finally and it's the first time in a very long time. And Jackie and I'd like to know if we could have little wooden name plates to sit in front of us when we come to meetings. >> And the food was pretty good, too. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> WBCA comments? >> No. >> Come on. Okay, we
005will move on to the building reports then, Mr. Manley. >> Yes, we uh have building reports and recognitions tonight and we'll go through those. Our recognitions are long and that is a very good sign as our districts there. You can take a look at what's on the screen currently. Our academic challenge team winning. We had a YWCA winner. Elks teenager of the month. Our cheerleaders were at Disney and won. Art awards. If you seen the big billboard on 62, McKenna Mason with her artwork athletically. Wow, what a winner. We had a wonderful, wonderful winner of athletics, girls basketball. Those are all the awards. All kinds of awards. Regional runner up. Boys basketball, all kinds of honors, all kinds of exceptions in a winning season. Boys wrestling, most wins in school history, state qualifier, all kinds
006of awards. Girls wrestling, all kinds of awards. winning season and our cheerleading squad state runnerup. When you look at all that, that's a pretty good winner. And and so I give our credit to our coaches, our athletes, our athletic director, our assistant athletic director, principal coffee, Mr. Bernie for all their work to keep our programs moving forward. And academically when we go back our academic challenge team, wow, some brain power there. We'd like to thank all of them and Mrs. Kidd, those students just did a tremendous job. So, thank you. That concludes the report. >> Do you have a student to do? >> Ah, yes. we have students to do and staff to do. At this time, can I have Mrs. Mrs. Baker come forward, please? >> Thank you. Hello everybody. Can you hear me?
007Okay. I don't really need this mic, but I'll just be uh a second. Thanks for coming, everybody. My name is Kylie Baker. I'm the principal at the West Branch Early Learning Center, and I'm really happy to stand up here with you today. I am always looking for positive people that really help make our building great, and I feel like we have three people to recognize that have really done a great job of that. So, we're going to start with our student first, our star student, Mr. Grady Beverly. You want to come up here with me? Come on up, Grady. I told him it would just be him and I tonight, right? So, I'm going to say a few things about you. Come here. I'm going to say a few things about them. Okay. So, it's
008really difficult picking out a student out of almost 400 kids that really stand out. So because we have really good kids in our district, but so I start to think about things from a different perspective. Who's always got a smile on their face? Who is happy? Who is friendly? Who is good and well behaved in the classroom? And Grady fits all of those things. But I have to be really honest with you, it wasn't until kindness crew started this uh this year that I've seen Grady really shine. So, we have a crew in the ELC called the kindness crew, and it's made of second graders that go around and make sure that the hallways are monitored and like our cafeteria is working well. And I'll tell you what, this guy right here shines at that.
009He is always being responsible and he takes his job very seriously. And I'm really proud of you for everything that you do. I think you're a great role model within our building. In the classroom, his teacher, do you know Mrs. F is here? She's all the way back there. His teacher's here tonight, too, um, to celebrate, and she only had wonderful things to say about Mr. Grady. So, I'm going to read what she said. Okay. Grady Beverly is kind and compassionate boy with a heart of gold. He is often found helping his teachers and his classmates. Grady always enters the classroom with a positive attitude and a true sense of warrior pride. He has a great sense of humor, and he often understands many of Mrs. F's jokes. Does she joke around a lot? Yeah.
010Uh, he is well loved by his peers and all of the adults that come in contact with him. It has been a privilege to be Grady's second grade teacher, and I look forward to seeing all the great things that he will accomplish in his life. And I couldn't agree more with you, Mrs. Spy. Grady, you are a great example of what a warrior is, and I'm so proud of you, and I can't wait to cheer you on as you go throughout your years at West Branch. Okay, congratulations. CONGRATUL BRADY, WE'RE not we're not done yet. We've got parting gifts. So, come on up here. We've got parting gifts. Grady, do you like donuts? >> I do. >> Yeah. I look like a man who likes donuts, though. So, you know, I thought about this. You
011know, we have a card for you to get some donuts. You're a little young for that coffee stuff, but we can get you some donuts. So on behalf of the board, myself, and our early learning center, we give you this nice certificate that you may always keep and a Duncan gift card and enjoy. Thank you, buddy. >> Congratulations, Grady. All right, the next person that I want to recognize is someone that literally keeps our building put together. Mr. Ted Lener. Come on up here. Mr. Ted, as our kids call him, is our one of our great custodians at the Early Learning Center. Ted has served our district for a long time. In fact, you will not even believe me when I tell you this, but we had a conversation today and Ted I was like,
012"But how long have you been working for West Branch?" And he's like, "Well, I started when I was 14." And I'm like, well, how did that happen? But he did. He's been working since 14 at West Ranch doing some summer jobs and different things during the summer. Uh after he graduated from West Ranch, he spent four years working in the Navy and serving there. So, thank you for your service again. Uh and then after that, because he loved West Ranch so much, he decided to come back and he has been our custodian now for 39 years on top OF THAT TIME. WHAT A blessing that you have been to our school and to the whole custodial staff. Um he also serves as president of our WBCA and I know that takes a lot of his
013time so thank you for that too. Uh Ted and his wife Terry who is also here have been married for 42 years. They have a daughter Jessica Scolion who is also a teacher. She teaches second grade at the ELC and a son Zachary. He is the proud grandpa, four grandb babies. Uh Bin, Kendall, Brody, and Walker. And truly, I think that is your favorite part of the job is being able to see his grandkids every day at work. And I I really see that in you. Ted is so deserving of this recognition. He has worked tirely over the past 40 years at West Branch. And he comes in every day with a positive attitude and a smile. And truly, our building runs so well because of you. I I not me, not nothing. It's all
014you and Kim, I think, for sure. He addresses every single situation with kindness. And our students love him. I asked him today what his favorite part of the job was, and he said, "The kids." And I kind of think that's cuz he's like our dad in the building. You know, he's the one guy in an elementary building. We have lots of women, but he's our guy. He's our dad. And even though rumors have been swirling of retirement, I'd be very happy for you to retire, but very sad for us. Um, thank you, Ted, for your hard work and your years of sacrifice. You've certainly earned this recognition tonight. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. LENER. It's an honor. We've worked together for many years and I consider you a friend, >> your lovely wife. She's just special. And if
015you want to know positivity, it's this guy. He comes across every day and genuinely loves being here. He keeps us moving forward and he is so good to deal with when you're working with associations. Ted's very down to earth. we are able to sit down, communicate, talk, and I greatly appreciate that. All your hard work is exceptional. And thank thank you for allowing me to be your kids principal of years ago. I've been I've been blessed to know them and you and thank you. And you get to go to Amazon. All right. >> All right. Last but not least, our certified staff member, Mrs. Jessica. Come on up here. Jessica has been with us for 12 years. She graduated from Northwest and then went to Malone uh college with a dual major in both early
016education and her intervention specialist. She's been married to her husband Ryan who is also here for 9 years. They have two sons, Jonah, who is a first grader at the ELC, and then Ross who attends our preschool. This next year, he's coming. Yes, next year he's in kindergarten. >> Uh Jessica is one of our amazing kindergarten teachers. And when I tell you there's a special place in heaven for kindergarten teachers. I say it all the time. I really mean it. Uh kindergarten is not an easy position, but this lady right here, she makes it look so easy. She's been working at West Branch for 12 years, and her teaching story contains a little bit of variety, which I kind of like. So, when we were chatting today, she was telling me about her story. She
017actually started out at the high school as an intervention specialist in 9th and 10th grade in algebra and geometry. Then she moved to first grade as a floating teacher because of enrollment and numbers. And then a kindergarten spot became open. So, she jumped onto that at kindergarten. And then Knox Elementary closed. So, She was bumped up to eighth grade where she taught eighth grade ELA for a year and then went to seventh grade math >> which I think brings a lot of variety and a lot of perspective into the job that you do now. Uh so then about 3 years ago kindergarten spot opened up and she decided to hop back in. And honestly when she told me this I knew she taught 8th grade but I didn't realize everything else. And I can't imagine
018her teaching anything other than kindergarten because you're such a natural kindergarten teacher. When I asked Jessica today what her favorite part of kindergarten was, she said it's the last quarter of kindergarten. Yep. Kind of get I kind of get that, especially now. Um, but that's when like the skills begin to click and that's when all of the hard work and time and effort that she's put in throughout the year kind of pays off. And you are just so well loved by our colleagues, by our staff, by our students, and by me. I just find you such a positive asset to our building and I appreciate all the hard work that you do with our littles. And this year has been challenging, but she has done it with grace. Um, to any of our original Knox
019Hawks crew members here, I remember my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Bricker, so well, and I have no doubt that your kindergarten kids will remember you too in many years to come. Congratulations, Jess. Jess, on behalf of all of us, we can't thank you enough. Uh, seems like just yesterday she walked into the building as Miss Warmold >> and then this great guy Ryan came along and now she's got kids in the in the building. Um, it's wonderful to watch her evolution. Her background, she's got special ed, regular ed. She is really good with kids and very, very patient. And I want to thank you for all you do for West Branch. That Northwest part's long gone. >> That's right. >> The good, we wear green. So, thank you on behalf of the board. Let me take
020you all three of them. >> Oh, yes. Can we get a picture, please? >> With Ted, with Mr. Lengar, Miss Baker, >> Brady, >> Mr. Lener, we'll get get a picture with everybody. Come on up and we'll have you face the crowd and I'll take a quick p picture. >> Can we say hi? Yeah. Say cheeseburger. >> Thank you everybody. move on to the >> Everybody's left. See what we do around. He doesn't have a report. >> Treasures consent items. Okay, we will move on to upon the recommendation of the superintendent and treasurer approve the following items by consent action. My stomach. You said the motion. I said, "Is that a motion?" >> My stomach. >> I'll second. >> Yeah. Together. >> Put some water. >> Do you have a Do you have everything you
021need? Okay. >> Mrs. Shields is motion. Mrs. Shaver. >> Mrs. Shields. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Shaver. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Neg. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Helm. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dean. >> Yes. Motion carries. >> Very good. We have a couple of people in that consent agenda that are retiring. One is Lonnie Woodri who works um night shift at the high school and he does a tremendous job cleaning. Also at the high school we have Mr. Ken Harrison. And if anybody's ever worked with Ken, he's one of the most downto- earthth, kid- centered people that you'd ever want to meet. And we wish both of them best of luck in their retirement. At this time, I'd like to have Mr. Coffee introduce some new staff that will be coming in at the high school. Good
022evening, everyone. We have I believe here tonight. First, I'll start off. We have an English opening that hopefully will be filled here in just a second. And if she would stand up, that's Molly Hppel. So, she's here with her mom and dad tonight. Um, I'm very proud that she's actually wearing green and she brought dad a green shirt or somebody got dad a green shirt. So, um, she's going to be taking over upstairs, uh, classes a little bit, but basically junior English. So, going into a really strong department and we're just super excited to have her. Uh you might know a little bit about her from track. Uh she was a track athlete in Salem, an outstanding runner. Uh outstanding student as well too and went on to YSU to college to uh to excel
023in both English and also in sports up there. So uh we appreciate her being here and mom and dad tonight. So welcome to to West Branch. So we'll start out with her. >> And next is someone that is not new to us. You've probably seen a lot of you know him and that's Dr. Dion Franket. I'm very proud to have him. If you want to stand up. He is actually he went a little different route to get to West Branch. He's had a very extensive uh past. A very very brilliant man. I will say that. And when he came to us a few years ago, he would do anything. And I remember uh long ago, we didn't have someone to take a basketball team to Alliance. And you know who stepped up was Dr. Dion
024stepped up and said, "You know what? I'll go and do whatever." That's just type the type of work ethic he is. He's going to be doing our shop classes and also I'm going to go into the math and actually physics realm as well and do kind of a lot of things for us. But I know he is super prepared. He lives just down the road and he's been a very big supporter of West Branch. I know for a long time even when he was in the building and when he was not. So we can officially uh hire him and call him one of our own now. Uh but I'm just super excited to have him what he can offer for kids. Um it is excellent. I know he's doing a lot of tutoring and or
025he's done a lot of tutoring from Canfield all the way west branch kind of all over the place and really made a big impact on kids and now uh he'll be with us and officially uh be wearing the green and white. So welcome to Dr. Dion. So >> and Mr. Slitter, will you introduce your new hire? >> Sure. Uh we are hiring Clayton Adams here as an intervention specialist in the West Branch Middle School. Clayton is a 2019 West Branch graduate and but he's been spending most of his time since then down in Columbus at Otterbine where he played football offensive uh line various positions and then he's been a graduate assistant the last couple of years coaching football and getting his teaching license. Right. So, he's going to be intervention specialist down in the
026third grade. And, uh, we're really, really excited to bring him into our team. >> Moving on, we're going to move on to new business. And we are moving on to student insurance. recommend approval of Guaranteed Trust Life Insurance Company as the student insurance provider for the 2627 school year. >> So move. >> I'll second. >> Treasurer, call the role. >> Mrs. Kaggi, >> yes. >> Mrs. Hel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dean, >> yes. >> Mrs. Deield, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mrs. Shaver, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Number two, the WBEA contract recommend the adoption of the tenative agreement between the West Branch Local School District Board of Education and the West Branch Education Association for the 2627, 2728, and 2829 contract years. I'll make a motion. Second, >> treasurer, call the role. >> Mrs. Schaer,
027>> yes. >> Mrs. Dean, >> yes. >> Mrs. H. >> Yes. Mrs. Kennedy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shields, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Mrs. Stone, would you mind if I say something? >> I'd like to thank our teachers on behalf of the board. We had, you know, you don't usually don't hear people say negotiations was good. It was a good experience. >> I'd say we kind of gathered in this room in a circle and had dialogue. It wasn't one side versus the other. It was us together working hand in hand. We are extremely grateful for that work. We have wonderful employees here both in the classified and certified here and we are grateful that this will bring us uh consistency and labor peace for the next three school years. So, thank you very much. Thank
028you to both of you. That doesn't happen everywhere. >> And both of you have always been open with me and Adam and we appreciate it. >> A lot of laughs, too. >> We I don't think I don't think Yeah, we had a lot of laughs. I mean, there I it it was a an experience where we got our work done, but we left hand in hand, and that's a wonderful thing. So, thank you teachers. Number three, the supplemental contract. This is recommend approval to grant a supplemental to Walt Deields for the 2627 head girls basketball coach. >> Make a motion. >> I'll second. Treasurer call the role. >> Mrs. Shaver, >> yes. >> Mrs. Helm, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dean, >> yes. >> Mrs. Netty, >> abstain. >> Mrs. Shields. >> Motion carries. >> Number
029four, Career Counseling Services Contract Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio. recommend approval to enter into an agreement with the ESC of Eastern Ohio for career counseling services for the 2627 school year. >> Can I ask question? Is it This is what we do every year, right? The COG, >> right? Okay. >> We're not held to any particular number or anything, right? Okay. >> As needed mostly. >> Okay. Thank call the role. Mrs. Kengi, >> yes. >> Mrs. Hel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shields, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shaver, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dean, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Number five, frontline contract. The former formerly the forecast 5 analytics recommend approval of the contract with the Frontline Technology Group at a cost of $17,57325. I'll make a motion. >> A second. Treasurer, call the role.
030>> Mrs. Hel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shaver, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bean, >> yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Number six, access contracts. recommend approval to enter into agreement with access to provide application services for FY27 at $39,196.75. A portion of these services will be paid for or reimbured through the eate program. I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Treasurer call the role. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Mrs. Shields. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bean. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Shaver. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Knight. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Number seven. HWS Best Health Contract. Recommend approval to enter into an agreement with the HWS Best Health Consulting for mental health services during the 2627 school year. >> So move. I'll second. >> Treasurer. Call the role. Mrs. Kennedy, >> yes. >> Mrs.
031Shaver, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dashield, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dean, >> yes. >> Mrs. Hill, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Number eight, teacher resignation resolved that the board accepts the resignation of teacher Jacqueline Cornick for the personal reasons effective at the end of the business on June 1st, 2026 and authorizes the board president, superintendent, and treasurer to execute documents relating to her separation from employment. >> Motion second. Treasurer, call the role. >> Mrs. Deield, >> yes. Mrs. Helm, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dean, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Shaver, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Number nine, alternate alternative school agreement. Recommend that the West Branch Board of Education enter into an agreement with the Mahoning Valley Community School as an alternative school for West Branch students during the 20 >> It is
032for this year, >> 2526 school year. >> There's somebody there now that we just just sent their earlier this month. Yes. >> Yes. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Treasurer. Call the role. >> Mrs. Hel. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dashield. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Shaver. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kennedy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dean. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Number 10. Neiola policy. Recommend the board adopt the following Neiola policy. Wave the first reading. >> So move. >> I'll second. Treasurer, call the role. One, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dean, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shaver, >> yes. >> Mrs. Deields, >> yes. >> Mrs. H. >> Yes. >> Number 11, Neiola policy second reading. Recommend the board adopt the following Neola policy second reading. I'll make a motion. >> Treasurer, call the role.
033>> Does this help? Yes, >> Mrs. Deields. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Shaver. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Kennedy. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Dean. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Okay, I believe this will be the end of our meeting. We will not be going into executive session. So, I thank you everyone for coming and >> okay, >> we do have to adjourn. >> We will make a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:33 p.m. >> She motion. >> Yes. >> Okay. Want to make sure That's how I >> treasurer call the role. >> Mrs. Helen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shield, >> yes. >> Mr. Favor, >> yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dean, >> yes. >> Carries. >> Thank you.