WB High principal named

BELOIT- The West Branch Local school board Thursday night hired a familiar face as the new high school principal.

The board promoted Assistant Principal Brian Coffee to the position vacated last month when Joseph Knoll took a position with the Mahoning County Educational Service Center. He will assume his new position on Aug. 1 at an annual salary of $90,600 for three years.

A former Sebring High School principal, Coffee has been at West Branch for the past four years.

"Mr. Coffee brings a great deal of experience to the position of high school principal," schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Weingart said. "It is always gratifying when you have someone in-house to fill a key position such as high school principal. Mr. Coffee is well known and well respected in the community, and he has established a fine rapport with students, staff and parents."

Coffee said his past role at the school will help him in his new capacity.

"Mr. Knoll was a great friend and mentor, and I hope to continue the programs he instilled here," he said. "I feel fortunate to have a step up...A lot of what I'll be doing I already know. I just hope to continue what is already here and go a step beyond."

The board also hired Tom Thompson to replace Coffee as assistant principal on a one-year contract for $76,923.

A former teacher in the district, Thompson previously held the same position from 2002-2006.

Weingart noted that Thompson agreed to return from retirement while the school transitions administrations and the board searches for a new assistant principal.

In other news, the board established a Warrior Experience Camp Fund in preparation for the new orientation program for sixth-grade students entering the middle school.

Additionally the board accepted the resignation of intervention specialist Alisha Gibson; and hired Laurie Crisan as a high school Spanish teacher and Rebecca Thrasher as an intervention specialist.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 in the high school Media Center.

Kevin Howell can be reached at khowell@salemnews.net