Local News

WB recognizes two student athletic firsts

BELOIT -- Two athletic firsts for West Branch Local School District were recognized at the Board of Education's regular meeting Wednesday -- the school's cheerleading team was named overall Grand Champion at the AmeriCheer competition in Orlando, Fla., and Jocelynn Brink was honored as the first female wrestler to represent the school at state tournaments.

"We have lots of firsts here to be exceptionally proud of," Superintendent Micki Egli said.

The media center and library at West Branch High School was filled with visitors for the board's meeting.

"This is nice to see our library filled up with this many people," Egli said.

Several other students and staff were also honored at the meeting, including 14-year middle school math and science teacher Rachel Basalla, high school math teacher Brenda Sharp, high school senior Kennedy Berger, and Diane Uyselt, a secretary at the school district for 42 years, who was also approved as a retire/rehire Wednesday.

Uyselt has worked 42 years "for the betterment of the school district," she "knows everyone by name," and has been the "backbone of this school," West Branch High School Assistant Principal Penny DeShields said.

"No task is too big or too small for her to handle," she said.

"If you look up going above and beyond in the dictionary, you'd see a picture of her there," West Branch Middle School Principal Fritz Schlueter said of Basalla.

West Branch High School Principal Brian Coffee and DeShields honored Sharp, Brink, and Berger -- singing their praises.

"She continually challenges herself to learn and grow academically and this carries over to the classroom where she encourages her students to strive and do their best," DeShields said of Sharp.

Berger, a senior student, has committed to the University of Mount Union and will continue her track and field career there. She is also active in the Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Coffee read heartfelt tributes from two of Berger's teachers, which called her "hard-working," "dedicated," "mature," and "a leader."

"I know she's going to go on to do great things," Coffee said.

For what is believed to be the 13th year in a row, the West Branch Local School District music department was awarded the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for "its outstanding commitment to music education," Egli said.

"Kudos to our music department," she said.

Egli also introduced three new staff members to the board -- Michael Ginocchi, new assistant athletic director, new full-time bus driver Amanda Hopkins, and guidance counselor Kierstin Fillman, whose contracts were approved. The board also approved the hire of Sheryl Bazley as a language arts teacher for next year and Sean Congemi as an intervention specialist.

Bazley and Congemi are both currently out-of-state, one in Florida and one in North Carolina.

"Yes, they are both moving home from those nice warm climates," Egli said.

Also on Wednesday, supplemental contracts were approved for Tim Cooper as head football coach, Sam Martucci as boys' soccer head coach, John Hancock as girls' tennis head coach, Frank Edie as boys' golf head coach, Dan Hall as girls' golf head coach, and Denise Ginocchi as varsity cheerleading coach.

The retirements of third grade teacher Natela Martig and bus and playground aide Dorothy Wartluf were also approved. The resignation of Lauri Edwards as intervention specialist was accepted.

In addition to Uyselt, the retire/rehire of Barb Smith as Education Management Information System (EMIS) coordinator and Mona McNeely as central office secretary were approved by the board.

The West Branch Local School District will meet next at West Branch High School at 6 p.m. May 22.