WEST BRANCH DISTRICT Schools chief hopes for a good year

Approval is needed before the high school cafeteria can open.
By JoANN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BELOIT -- The marquee at the Damascus Friends Church on state Route 62 reads: "Pray for WB schools."
Schools Superintendent Louis Ramunno told the West Branch Board of Education recently that the prayer request had nothing to do with rumors in the community alleging a delay in the start of the school year.
He said it was a request for a general prayer meeting focused on the district having a good year.
"It's not going to be pretty, though," Ramunno said about the massive construction going on at the high school and adjacent K-8 building. "But we're scheduled to open Sept. 2."
Summer rains have also caused havoc, creating mud and flooding of the high school cafeteria.
"We're up in the air about lunches," he added, saying the district must have approval from the Mahoning County Board of Health before opening the cafeteria. "The kids may have to brown-bag it for a few days. "
When pupils are able to buy their lunches, they'll find a 25-cent increase in lunches at all buildings. Kindergarten through fifth grade will pay $1.75; grades six to 12 will pay $2; adult lunches will cost $2.50.
In addition to approving the lunch-price increase, the board voted last week to award the district's bakery business to Schwebel Bakery and dairy business to Dean's Dairy.
Continuing with action for the new schools, the board selected Johnson Controls for the installation of heating and air conditioning for all buildings, including the Damascus and Knox elementaries, whose constructions have not yet started. The contract cost was not immediately available.
Ramunno said the company will be able to tie the systems of all four buildings together for more efficiency.
In addition, the board approved a general fund expenditure of $43,716 to Hudson Construction for asphalt work on the senior high parking lots. Ramunno said this is work in addition to the new lot that Hudson is installing at the new K-8 building.
New hires
The board hired Tina McMullen of Homeworth as a second-grade teacher at Maple Ridge Elementary and Shelley Wilson of Beloit as a half-time kindergarten teacher at Goshen Center Elementary. McMullen will be paid an annual salary of $25,667; Wilson will be paid half that amount.
District resident Brett Griffith was hired as freshman football coach at a salary of $2,746, and district resident Stacey Doolan was hired as a varsity cheerleading adviser for winter and freshman cheerleading advisor for fall. Doolan's position pays $3,259 for an entire year, but will be adjusted for a partial year.
Teacher Tonya Edie was hired to share a post with teacher Candy Rockwell as junior high cheerleading adviser, and will split the $1,668 salary.
The board also hired Dave Brenner of Youngstown as girls varsity soccer coach at a salary of $4,517 and Jason Keller of Youngstown as assistant girls soccer coach at $2,669.