Hiring decision depends on levy

Baseball, softball and track coaches are in limbo.
By JOANN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BERLIN CENTER -- The Western Reserve Local Board of Education is waiting to make a decision on hiring spring sports coaches until board members know whether voters will support a 5.6-mill operating levy on the Nov. 2 ballot.
"We did not hire spring coaches," said Superintendent Charles Swindler after the board's monthly meeting Thursday.
"What the board decides to do will depend on whether the levy passes or not."
The board's decision will affect baseball, softball, and both boys and girls track.
Basketball coaches were named for the girls program. Kimberly Clark of Lake Milton will head the program while Scott Higgins of Salem will serve as the junior varsity coach. Clark, who will make $6,071 as head coach, is a graduate of Howland High School and Penn State University.
She played four years of college basketball and has eight years' college coaching experience as well as two years' high school experience. Higgins, who will earn $3,642, also has college playing and coaching experience.
The board also hired junior high coaches for basketball. District residents Brian Snyder, Joe Serensky and Gary Fernando will coach eighth-grade boys, eighth-grade girls, and seventh-grade girls, respectively. Each will make $3,187 for the positions.
In other action, the board granted Amy Ewing, an Ellsworth Elementary teacher, a parental leave of absence, effective Nov. 5 until the end of the school year.
Other positions
Carla Duda, who teaches at both the elementary and high school, was hired as a mentor, as was high school teacher Kathy Yaist. Each will make $1,104. High school teacher Diane Byers was hired as yearbook adviser at a salary of $2,428, while district resident Mark Philibin was approved as an unpaid Ski Club adviser. Dan Danch, a former Western Reserve student, was approved as an unpaid assistant for technology.
The board handed out several Red Apple awards to staff and community members. The Red Apple Award recognizes the accomplishments of any staff, district resident, or other person who contributes to the district or the students. The board recognized high school teacher Michelle Berg for receiving the 2004 Teacher of the Year award from the Air Force Association Chapter #371; Dennis Zinz and members of the class of 2004 for landscaping at the high school; and residents Phil and Cindy Markijohn for donating plants and shrubs at the high school.
Also recognized were Grace Services, Inc., for pest and weed control services and Sam Mitchell for providing playground mulch at the elementary school.