The Vantage Board of Education held the August Board meeting on Thursday, August 11, 2016 in
the District Conference room. The minutes from the June 23, 2016 regular board meeting were
approved along with financial statements for the month of June, 2016.
Superintendent Staci Kaufman updated the Board on a tax abatement and CRA item. She also
introduced pending business with EDP Renewables regarding compliance with S. B. 232, which provided
the option for an alternate energy zone (AEZ) to be created in Paulding County. The formerly approved
AEZ in Paulding County allows partnership with the Ohio Technical Center at Vantage, (a University
System of Ohio entity), for the new Amazon Wind Farm. Additional classroom resources, instructional
equipment, and scholarship funding have been proposed and an agreement will be finalized between
Vantage Career Center and EDP. Superintendent Kaufman reported all new staff are in place to start the
year, with the most recent addition being the August employment of a social studies instructor and a
Medical Office Management instructor in the high school. She also updated the Board on moving closer
to closing the OFCC construction project, which concluded work in 2013. Updated exterior signage will
be added in the coming months, at a cost of approximately $1800. The new parking lot signs will be
easier to read and better direct visitors.
Ohio Technical Center Director Pete Prichard reported on the
Vantage adult education entity being approved to offer the 22 Plus Program. This program will allow
individuals 22 years old and older, who are credits short from high school graduation, to make those
credits up and graduate high school via a diploma issued by the Ohio Department of Education.
Combined with the ABLE program we now offer, three avenues for high school diploma completion or
obtaining the equivalent, will allow Vantage to increase the diverse population served, placing students
on a path for success.
High School Director Tony Unverferth reported that Robotics and Advanced
Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative (RAMTEC) equipment has been arriving and various
pieces will continue to arrive into early January 2017. Director Unverferth also reported that the current
enrollment is at 448 students for the 2016-17 school year, an increase from 2015-16, and Vantage will
continue to accept student applications throughout the rest of the summer.
In new business, the Board:
➢ Employed the following list, as needed as scheduled: Ray Gibson, Social Studies, Diane Font, Medical
Office Management, Lisa Enyart, part-time cook/custodial, Reesa Rohrs, H.S. Secondary Program
STNA Coordinator, Karen McGilton, Summer Maintenance;
➢ Employed the following list, as Ohio Technical Center employees, as needed, as scheduled: Cynthia
Krizan, OTC Transitions Coordinator, Michael DeMoss, Trucking Academy Maintenance and Annette
Klinger, OTC Proctor, and the following OTC Instructors, Shirley Jarvis, Angie Shellabarger, Tammy
Keller, Diane Meringleo-Dirksen, Jourdan Tomlinson, Kristina Byrd;
➢ Appointed Lonnie Nedderman as the 2016 OSBA Vantage Career Center Capital Conference
Delegate and Pat Baumle as the Alternate OSBA Vantage Career Center Capital Conference Delegate
to be held November 13 – 16, 2016;
➢ Accepted the resignation of Paula Vantilburg, Medical Office Management Instructor, effective July 5,
2016;
➢ Employed Reesa Rohrs as a primary instructor for nursing clinicals from September 1, 2016 – August
31, 2017 at the rate of $23.00 per hr;
➢ Approved compensation for lab setup and preparations for Medical Office Management Instructor,
Diane Font, at the rate of $125.00 per day, for three days ($375.00 total) prior to the 2016-17 school
year;
➢ Approved the revised job description for the Warehouse/Maintenance;
➢ Accepted the donation of a 1979 Dodge B200 ¾ ton pickup truck, valued at 2,500.00, from John
Gamble, Van Wert, Ohio, for the Vantage FFA program;
➢ Recognized school nurse (first aid) designee, to act in an emergency only, for 2016-17 school year.
(Leigh Carey, Health Technology Instructor);
➢ Resolution that Vantage Career Center is compliant with SB210 (federal nutritional guidelines) in our
school district;
➢ Approved the Vantage Preschool fees for the school year 2016-17;
➢ Approved the 2016-17 Vantage Preschool Parent Handbook;
➢ Approved the 2016-17 Vantage Preschool Policy Handbook;
➢ Approved the Vantage Career Center substitute list of certified / non-certified employees and
subsequent revisions for high school and adult education operations;
➢ Approved the Western Buckeye ESC substitute list and subsequent revisions;
➢ Approved the list of bus & van drivers for Vantage Career Center 2016-17 school year;
➢ Approved the Bilateral Articulation Agreement with Rhodes State College and Vantage Career
Center;
➢ Accepted a grant of $1,000.00 from the “Patricia M. Lichtensteiger Memorial Fund” of the Van Wert
County Foundation for the Literacy Program at Vantage Career Center;
➢ Accepted a grant of $53,835.00 from the Van Wert County Foundation to be used to purchase
electronic items. (Rothacker-Lampe Bequest);
➢ Approved the Ohio Technical Center Catalog and Student handbook for the 2016-2017 school year;
➢ Approved the Sub-recipient Agreement between WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. and the
Ohio Technical Center at Vantage Career Center;
➢ Approved participation in the Byrl R. Shoemaker CTE Institute for Ohio Technical Center Director
Pete Prichard for the 2016-17 school year;
➢ Approved the compensation of Ohio Technical Center Instructors for customized training, up to 70%
of the gross per assignment, not to exceed $50.00 per hour;
➢ Approved the City of Van Wert Residential Community Reinvestment Area Application between
Gregory Amstutz, 1304 Woodland Avenue, and Vantage Career Center;
➢ First reading of NEOLA revised policies – 3223 Professional Staff – Standard – Based School Counselor
Evaluation;
➢ Final reading of NEOLA revised policy – 5611 Students – Due Process Rights;
The next regular Board meeting will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 7:00 pm in the District Conference Room.
