Welcome Back
West Branch Local Schools will begin the 2011-2012 School Year with another Excellent Rating from the State of Ohio. This is the fourth year in a row that West Branch has been rated Excellent by the State of Ohio. Scores on state testing continue to move in a positive direction. For the first time since the rating system has been in effect, West Branch has surpassed 100 on the State Performance Index. These test scores for West Branch students indicate that the longer the students are with us, the greater their achievement. This is a testament to hard work and focus of our students and staff.
West Branch has one new administrator. Mr. Tim Fairfield will assume the duties of assistant principal at West Branch High School. Last year, Mr. Brian Coffee moved to principal when Mr. Joe Knoll took a position as Assistant Superintendent at the Mahoning County Educational Service Center. Retired administrator Mr. Tom Thompson filled in as assistant principal last year. Mr. Fairfield has a wealth of experience in business and has worked for the past several years as a CBI (Career Based Intervention) Instructor, coordinating a work-study program for Middle and High School students.
West Branch will have a number of special education units in the district this year. Formerly, the district contracted with County ESC for services. The District is pleased to be able to offer all West Branch students an opportunity to be housed in classrooms within the District.
West Branch continues to incorporate technology into the classroom. Due to the efforts of parent support groups as well as two major grants, the District will begin the year with several new technology initiatives. Both Damascus Elementary and West Branch Middle School will partner with local universities to provide in-service and support for bringing wireless technology into the classrooms. Thanks to the efforts of parent support groups, almost all of the elementary classrooms and several of the Middle School and High School classrooms are now equipped with Smartboard Technology.
West Branch is pleased to have partnered with Youngstown State University to offer dual credit for selected high school courses for seniors. Participation among West Branch students in the “Seniors to Sophomores” program through Kent State Salem continues to be one of the strongest in the area. The program allows high school students to earn up to a year’s worth of college credits at no cost to the student or parents. West Branch has also partnered with Stark State to provide dual credit courses for business and vocational courses. Open Enrollment continues to be very strong, with many more students opting to come to the District than to leave.
West Branch has been proud to be a part of the “Success by Six” early learning initiative for the past two years. The summer program invites kindergarten students to attend a four week program in August to assist the kindergarteners with the transition to school. Nearly fifty incoming kindergarteners have participated in the program each year with very positive results. The District is grateful for the leadership of the United Way of Mahoning Valley and PNC Bank for spearheading and supporting this program for our young people.
Dr. Scott Weingart, superintendent will begin his seventeenth year with the District and his eighth year as superintendent this year. Treasurer Dan Telzrow will begin his third year with the District. The West Branch Board of Education is served by President Terry Criss, Vice President Kim Burkhart, and Board Members Lori McLaughlin, Earl Trimmer and John Wallace.
The first day for students in West Branch will be Wednesday, September 7, 2011.