BELOIT — Those interested in applying for the vacant position on the West Branch Board of Education have until April 23 to do so.

Board President Mikki Kanagy said at Wednesday’s board meeting that all applications must be submitted in writing to board treasurer Adam Fisher by 3 p.m. on the deadline date.

The position opened up when a board member Aaron Hawk tendered his resignation on April 10, citing his wife’s recent professional promotion and his need to be more available for his family. The board officially accepted Hawk’s resignation on Wednesday.

A new board member will need to be in place by May 9. Joe Courtwright was appointed by the board as vice president, a role that was previously filled by Hawk.

Also at the board meeting, superintendent Micki Egli congratulated three district employees on their pending retirements. The board approved the retirement resignations of aides Megan Woods and Nancy Yonkey and bus driver Cheryl Oblisk, as well as the retire/rehire of classified staff member Lynn Moore (technology).

In other personnel matters, the board approved a three-year contract for Matthew Tafe as middle school assistant principal beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and the employment of elementary teachers Brooke Courtney and Erin Chaplow. Certified sub Chloe Wilhelm and Vo-Ag teacher Abigail George were approved for hire. The board also approved the following supplemental contracts: Scott Loudon as head boys basketball coach and summer conditioning coach; Chris Dorris as head wrestling coach; John Hancock as boys basketball summer conditioning coach; and Tim Cooper as football summer conditioning coach. Resignations of Kelly Passmore (Intervention Specialist) and Cari Conaway (Middle School Language Arts), both effective at the completion of the 2024-25 school year, were accepted and approved.

The board recognized and expressed gratitude for a long list of donations. They included several to the school’s FFA program from James and Nicole Stryffeler ($100), Generations Women’s Health ($300), Boyle Harvesting ($500), Willow View Farms ($100), Dean Mossgrove ($300), Martig Farms ($300), Fraser Auto ($100), Zeller Valley Farm ($200), Kenneth and Rebecca McCracken ($300), Ruthrauff Farms ($100), Campbell Bros. Inc. ($300), Rocky Gardens Landscape Group ($300), Advanced Land Enhancement Solutions ($50) and anonymous ($100). West Branch girls soccer received an anonymous $1,500 donation and PPC Flex donated equipment to the high school with a value of $3,000.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the board:

— Approved to renew Walt DeShields’ contract as head girls basketball coach.

— Accepted building updates from West Branch High School Principal Brian Coffee, West Branch Middle School Principal Fritz Schlueter and Early Learning Center Principal Kylie Baker, as well as curriculum updates from Angeline Theis.

— Recognized YWCA Young Women With a Bright Future winner (Lauren Cameron), West Branch High School Students of the Month, Elks’ Teenagers of the Month (Garin Harlan and Eliza Hirst), the Young & Alive and Band Members who performed at Disney World and the cast and crew of the high school musical Les Miserables on “an outstanding performance.”

— Modified Maintenance Supervisor Sean Fritz’s start date as April 23, 2025.

— Approved several professional days for staff.

— Approved Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company as the student insurance provider for the 2025-26 school year.

— Approved the March 2025 Cash Summary Report ($8,271,729), Cash Reconciliation ($12,251,926), Monthly Investment Statement ($3,284,948) SM2M Report, Check Register and Appropriations Summary.