Vantage Board Hears Updates
The Vantage Board of Education held its regular meeting on Thursday, March 6, 2014. The minutes of the February 6, 2014 regular meeting were approved, as well as financial statements for January, 2014. The Board approved a resolution to amend the appropriations and revenues for the FY14 and a resolution to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorize the necessary tax levies and certify them to the county auditor as follows: General Fund, 3.10 Mills; Permanent Improvement, .70 Mills; and Bond Retirement, 1.05 Mills. The report of the Treasurer included the approval of the cash reconciliation worksheet and the investment report.
Superintendent Staci Kaufman provided the Board with an update of her recent visit with Congressman Bob Latta in Washington, D.C., where she discussed points for consideration in the Perkins Act reauthorization and Workforce Investment Act reauthorization language. Local Vantage initiatives and success stories were shared, reinforcing career technical education’s value in Ohio. She also commended several Vantage staff members for their outstanding work with a Vantage student recently. The efforts of Counselor Jim Fisher, Intervention Specialist Ashley Cline, Instructors Shelly Knippen, Mike Miller, and Matthew Miller, and supervisors Ted Verhoff and Mike Knott were noted. Adult Education Director Pete Prichard reported that the new accreditation process should be completed by August, 2014 and a partnership with Northwest State Community College, Rhodes State, and the University of Toledo on a grant involving the Industrial Automation Program. He updated the Board on programs maintaining 100% retention and Trade and Industrial students already earning college credit that can be applied to an Associate of Technical Studies Degree. Plans are in place to increase truck driving classes starting in March and the wind-turbine and pipe welding programs have a planned spring class start. High School Director Ben Winans reported on the successful Open House, results of the Regional BPA, SkillsUSA and FCCLA competitions and state qualifiers, the new online application being used by Student Services and preliminary enrollment numbers, 2nd quarter Blue Chippers, and program activities.
In new business, the Board approved:
* Employ the following list of employees, as needed, as scheduled: MaryAnn Hall, 2 year
* CTE Supervisor; Pete Prichard, 3 year Adult Education Director; Adelina Alvarez, 1 year
* Cafeteria Cook; Lucas Compton, 1 year Technology Support Specialist; Lori Gunderman,
* 1 year Assistant Treasurer; James Martin, 1 year Custodian; John Ringwald, 1 year
* Custodian;
* Accept the resignation from Kent Taylor, Electricity Instructor for the purpose of retirement effective May 31, 2014;
* Employ the following list, as Adult Education instructors, as needed, as scheduled: Jourdan Tomlinson, Health Careers;
* Appoint Ben Winans as the District’s Homeless Liaison per school policy;
* Accept the donation of 9 complete set of uniforms, with the value of $351.00 from Miller’s Textile Services for the Trade & Industrial programs;
* Accept the donation of tubing, with the value of $960.47 from Advanced Chassis of Antwerp, OH for the Trade & Industrial programs;
* Accept the donation of $500.00 from the Ottawa Glandorf Rotary Club to the Interact Club for the purchase of toolboxes for Haiti Carpentry program;
* Accept the donation of $350.00 from the Hicksville Rotary Club to the Interact Club for the purchase of toolboxes for Haiti Carpentry program;
* Resolution to approve the revised 2014-15 school calendar;
* Resolution to approve the City of Van Wert Community Reinvestment Area Agreement between Rhodes Investment, of 872 N. Washington St, Van Wert, OH and Vantage Career Center;
* Resolution to approve the Continental Community Reinvestment Area Tax Exemption between Justin & Amber Huff, 402 W. Grove St., Continental, OH and Vantage Career Center;
* Approve an overnight field trip to Columbus, Ohio for State BPA Competition from March 14 to March 15, 2014;
* Approve an overnight field trip to Columbus, Ohio for State FCCLA Competition from April 23 to April 25, 2014;
* Approve an overnight field trip to Columbus, Ohio for Skills USA State Competition from April 14 to April 16, 2014;
* Approve an overnight field trip to Columbus, Ohio for FFA Competition from May 1 to May 3, 2014;
After executive session where no action was taken, the Board adjourned. The next meeting of the Board of Education meeting will be held Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 5 pm in the District Conference Room prior to the All Boards Dinner.
