BELOIT — The West Branch Board of Education approved the addition of a new club sport in its November meeting.

The board voted unanimously to approve the formation of a high school girl’s flag football team as a club sport, with Rick Mulinix as the program’s volunteer head coach.

Superintendent Micki Egli said that the district had received a formal application to form the program from one of the district’s teachers, Angie Mulinix, and their daughter who is a student at the high school, and that the program would have no cost to the district initially.

Egli explained that currently the Cleveland Browns will partner with any school in northeast Ohio that forms a flag football program and that the Browns will cover the costs of the program’s first season, including the cost of uniforms.

“They’re (the Browns) trying to get more schools to have this opportunity for girls, and covering those costs like uniforms is a great way to encourage that,” said Egli.

Egli said that as a spring sport the flag football team would begin playing this year, but that she was unsure of what the exact dates and locations of the new team’s games will be, as the Browns will also oversee scheduling during the initial season. The season calendar included in the program’s proposal states that practices will begin on Feb. 23, with the regular season set to begin March 20.

Per district policy girl’s flag football will need to see an increase in student participation over the course of two years before it can be considered for addition as a varsity sport.

“I think that it’s a wonderful opportunity for our female athletes to get out and be more active in a completely new sport,” said Egli.

The board also approved a resolution re-affirming the district’s commitment to supporting military children and families and encouraging “all school staff and community members to initiate, support and participate in appreciation activities designed to recognize the exceptional role and unique sacrifices our military connected youth make in our nation’s best interest.”

Other matters approved included a contract addendum for Technology Director James Graham, which Egli said updates his contract to reflect that he will be taking over the district’s building automation and HVAC responsibilities.

The board also approved several administrative and personnel items.

Administrative items approved included: the district’s nutritional standards reports; a plan to provide instruction via online delivery to make up for any missed curriculum hours for the 2025-2026 school year; permission to the high school competition cheerleading squad to attend the AmeriCheer International Cheer Completion in Orlando, Florida on March 12-16; and a contract with ACCESS for transport and internet service for fiscal year 2027-2029 at a cost of $74,770.02 per year.

Personnel items approved included: the retirement of High School English teacher Tracy Hinkle effective May 31 after more than 30 years of service in the district; the resignation of bus driver Kate Flowers effective Nov. 25; and supplementals for the 2025-2026 school year.

The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of personnel matters and matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or rules or state statutes.