WEST BRANCH School board approves five-year financial plan

The board also hired basketball coaches and recognized the achievements of some fall sport teams and athletes.
By JoANN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BELOIT -- The West Branch Local Board of Education approved the district's state-mandated five-year financial plan, which shows the district in sound financial shape until the final year of projection, 2007.
Although the numbers used to create the forecast are estimates and may not be accurate as long-range figures, every district in the state must show a financial plan to keep its district solvent.
"We run a very tight ship and have been very frugal," district Treasurer Karen Elsner said after the school board meeting Thursday. "If this deficit occurs in five years, we'll eventually have to go back to the voters to get additional money unless the state changes its method of funding."
Elsner added that district officials will attend one of two meetings in the area on Ohio's school funding problems. One meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Jackson-Milton High School, and another will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Boardman High School.
Coaches hired
In other action, the board hired basketball coaches for the upcoming season. Matt Thomas of Poland, a teacher at the high school, will coach seventh-grade boys. Josh Scott of Beloit will coach seventh-grade girls, and Jason Candle will coach freshman girls. Scott and Candle are West Branch graduates and students at Mount Union College.
The West Branch Little Warrior Basketball League received permission to use gymnasiums at Knox, Goshen Center, Beloit, and Maple Ridge elementary schools and West Branch Junior High for the upcoming season.
Recognized for accomplishments for fall sports were coach Sue Deas and the varsity volleyball team, and coach Lynn Grove and the golf team for winning titles in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference. Deas was named the league's Coach of the Year, and senior Amber Metzgar was selected Player of the Year. Grove also received Coach of the Year honors, and senior Alan Dattilio was named Player of the Year. The girls tennis team, coached by Elaine Bonar, were named champions of the Northeast Tennis League.