Sean Fritz was hired as West Branch’s maintenance director for the three-year period from June 1 through June 30, 2028, in the board of education’s meeting Monday. While Fritz does not officially start his position with the district until June, he will provide the district with consulting services throughout April and May as he finishes up with his current employer. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

BELOIT — The West Branch board of education hired a new maintenance director in its meeting Monday.

The board voted unanimously to approve the hire of Sean Fritz as the district’s new maintenance director for the three-year period beginning June 1 and ending on June 30, 2028. While Fritz doesn’t officially start his new position until June, Superintendent Micki Egli said that he will begin providing his expertise to the district immediately, providing consultant services through April and May beginning next week “while he finishes his current employment contract.” Treasurer Adam Fisher said the salary for the maintenance director position was still being negotiated.

The board also approved a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the Mahoning County Auditor. Fisher and Board President Mikki Kanagy stressed that this was just a routine resolution approving the county auditor’s assessment and was not a new levy.

Other financial matters approved included the purchase of two 72-passenger school bus chassis and bodies which were bid through the Ohio Schools Council at a cost of $131,000 each, a total cost of $262,000; and the approval of bids from Caplea Architects Inc. for the Vocational Agriculture Barn and Lab Expansion Project totaling approximately $250,000 which Egli said would be paid through grant funding from the district’s Ohio Career Technical Education Equipment Grant for Innovation and Expansion, and Grow Ohio Grant.

The board also approved several administrative and personnel items.

Administrative items included: a shared services contract with the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio for the 2025-2026 school year; a counseling services contract with the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio at a cost of $9,260 for the period of July 1, through June 30, 2026; an agreement with Sedgwick for the Workers Comp and Unemployment Group Rating Program at $3,055 for the 2026 calendar year; approval for the West Branch FFA Member to travel to Columbus from April 30 through May2 for the Ohio FFA Convention; and a Memorandum of Understandings with local colleges and universities to allow for candidates to participate in field experiences and student teaching experiences for the 2025 – 2026 school year.

Personal items included: the rehire of Technology Director James Graham for a three-year period effective July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028; the rehire of School Psychologist Stephanie White for a three-year period effective July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028; the resignations of Title Tutor Ginger Williamson effective March 14, Second Grade Teacher Julie McConnell effective March 28, and High School Counselor Chris Yannon effective at the end of the 2024-2025 school year; the retirements of School Secretary Denise Elder effective July 1, Assistant Principal Matthew Manley effective at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and Transportation/Playground Aide Nancy Yonkey effective July 1; the appointment of Traci Raga as Young & Alive Chaperone for the 2024-2025 school year; and the appointment of Gustav Schuster and Samuel Barnhouse as box truck drivers to transport band and choir equipment; and stipend pay of $30 per hour for Technology Director Jim Graham for supplementary work exceeding standard responsibilities.

The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of personnel matters with no action to follow.

The board of education will meet next at 5:30 p.m. April 16.

mahart@mojonews.com