West Branch Local Schools

The West Branch school district has continued to ride the
wave of success in the last several years.
Students continued to thrive academically, athletically and in the
fine arts and for the second time since the State of Ohio began to issue
school report cards, West Branch achieved the ranking of "Excellent."
This is the highest rating awarded by the state and the ranking recognizes
outstanding achievement by students on state achievement tests.
West Branch hosted the State Future Problem Solvers
Competition for a number of years in a row, as well as hosting
its first-ever postseason home football game. Several athletes
qualified for the state meet in track and cross country.
This past year was the second full year for students and staff to
occupy Damascus Elementary and Knox Elementary buildings. The
dedication of these two new elementary buildings brings to a close
a $48 million building program begun in 2000. In 2000, voters in the
West Branch District approved a 4.5 mill bond issue. The State of Ohio
provided 80 percent of the funding, with local taxpayers providing 20
percent. The program known as the Ohio Schools Facility Commission
has enabled West Branch to renovate the High School, and build three
new Elementary Schools and a new Middle School.
West Branch Local Schools enrolled approximately 2,500 students
in 2006-2007. The district received more than 300 Open Enrollment
Applications from students outside of the district. West Branch continues
to use testing and assessment data to develop intervention programs
to assist students at all levels. We have continued to focus on reading
intervention in the early grades, realizing that effective reading is key
to student success. The Board of Education approved new texts and
materials in the areas of math, science and language arts (English)
this past year. West Branch successfully negotiated a new three year
contract with certificated and classified staff. While school finance
continues to be a challenge for West Branch as well as other districts in
the State, we finished the year in the black and we continue to operate
at the 20 mill floor, the lowest level allowed by the State.
We continue to incorporate technology into our classrooms and
in-service our staff on the ways technology can enhance instruction.
All three of our PIE's (Partners in Education) at the elementary
levels provided funds to outfit the new computer labs at each of our
elementary schools in 2005-2006.
ADMINISTRATION
The West Branch Local Schools central office is located at
14277 Main St., Beloit, and can be reached at (330) 938-9324.
Superintendent - Dr. Scott R. Weingart
Director of Special Services - Marsha Schumacher. Office at the
high school, (330) 938-4490.
Food Services Supervisor - Lorrie Weingart. Office at the high
school, (330) 938-4410.
Transportation Supervisor - Sandy Warder. Office at bus garage,
14277 Main St., Beloit, (330) 938-6246.
Maintenance Supervisor- Dan Favazzo. Office at high school,
(330) 938-4465.
District Librarian - Leigh Ann Martin. Office at the high school,
(330) 938-4475
SCHOOL BOARD
Meets the third Thursday of the month in the High School Media
Center.
Kim Burkhart, vice president, 11110 N. Johnson Road, Beloit.
Term expires Dec. 31, 2011.
Terry Criss, 14641 Beloit-Snodes Road, Beloit. Term expires
Dec. 31, 2009
Lori McLaughlin, 22341 Bowman Road, Homeworth. Term
expires Dec. 31, 2011.
Larry Romigh, president, 26009 Georgetown Road, Homeworth.
Term expires Dec. 31, 2009.
John Wallace, 4705 Homeworth Road, Homeworth. Term
expires Dec. 31, 2009.
SCHOOLS
West Branch High School - 14277 Main St., Beloit, (330) 938-
2183, Joseph Knoll, Principal, Brian Coffee, Assistant Principal.
West Branch Middle School - 14409 Beloit-Snodes Road, (330)
938-4300. Matthew Manley, principal.
Beloit Elementary School - 14409 Beloit-Snodes Road, Beloit,
(330) 938-4300. Sherri Kitzmiller, principal.
Damascus Elementary - 14405 Pricetown Road, Salem. James
Turner, Principal, (330) 938-4500
Knox Elementary School - 2900 Knox School Road, Knox
Township. John Airhart, Principal, (330) 938-1122.
GROUPS
Beloit P.I.E. - Meets the second Tuesday of the month at the school.
Damascus P.I.E. - Meets the first Wednesday of the month.
Knox P.I.E. - Meets the third Thursday of the month.
Middle School P.I.E. - Meets the second Friday of the month.
Athletic Boosters - Meets the first Tuesday of the month.
Band Boosters - Meets the second Tuesday of the month.
Choral Boosters - Meets the first Thursday of the month.
Ex-Cel Parents - Meetings vary.