Prior to the regular Vantage monthly board meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, the Board held a tax budget hearing and an organizational meeting. President Pro-Tem Lonnie Nedderman (Crestview) called the organizational meeting to order and the oath of office was administered to returning Board members Ron Bradford (Continental), and Greg Reinhart (Paulding), and new members Eric Germann (Lincolnview), Kim Wannemacher (Ottoville), Cliff Wieging (Ft. Jennings), and Debby Compton (Van Wert).
Elections were held and Lonnie Nedderman from Crestview was elected President and Ron Bradford from Continental was elected Vice-President. Dennis Recker from Antwerp will serve as Legislative Liaison and Greg Reinhart from Paulding , Student Achievement Liaison. Regular monthly meetings were scheduled for the first Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., with the exception of the April Board meeting which will be held at 5:15 on April 3, 2014, prior to the All Boards dinner. The July Board meeting will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Lori Davis was appointed as Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer for Vantage Career Center and was authorized to request tax advances from appropriate county auditors, pay outstanding bills, make general fund transfers and invest active, inactive and interim funds. The Vantage Career Center Board of Education Service Fund was set at $8,000.
Superintendent Staci Kaufman was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Vantage Career Center, Purchasing Agent, Signatory for salary notices and contracts following Board of Education employment or salary notice adoption and the official to review and approve student activity budgets. The Superintendent was authorized to extend employment contracts as well as accept resignations between regularly scheduled board meetings when necessary for the efficient operation of the school. The Superintendent was authorized to approve staff member attendance at professional meetings and to approve travel and business related expense vouchers, leave forms, etc. She was appointed as the Vantage VWASIG Board Representative. The Treasurer was authorized to approve travel and business related expense vouchers and leave forms, etc., submitted by the Superintendent. The Vantage Board of Education as a whole was designated to serve as Audit Committee for the finances for the school district. The Van Wert Times Bulletin was designated as the official school newspaper.
Membership was approved for the Ohio School Boards Association, Association of Career Technical Education, Ohio Association of Career Technical Superintendents, and ETPI – Education Tax Policy Institute, and OSBA Legal Assistance Fund. Legal counsel and cashier positions were designated. Petty cash funds were set.
At the regular board meeting, the minutes from the December 5, 2013 board meeting were approved along with financial statements for the month of November, 2013. The 2015 Vantage Career Center Tax Budget was approved as presented at the Budget Hearing. The Treasurer was authorized to compensate Vantage Board members at the maximum rate allowable by law of $125 per meeting.
Superintendent Staci Kaufman presented an update on the recent water damage and repair work in two areas of the building due to the frozen sprinkler system, which occurred on January 8. High School Director Ben Winans reported that during the month of December the Vantage students and staff worked together to help those in need in our local community. One project was the Toss A Toy Program, which provides toys to those who are less fortunate. Amy Grothouse and the VCC students spearheaded the drive at Vantage and were able to raise over $1600 to purchase toys. The students and staff again pitched in as we assisted one of our own students whose family had lost everything in a house fire. Through generous donations Vantage was able to present the family with a check for close to $1500 to help them get back on their feet. On December 10, 2013, Vantage inducted 18 students into the National Technical Honor Society. Adult Education Director Pete Prichard reported that Enrollment Coordinator Dee Dee Dirksen is still working with inquiries and building enrollment for Northwest State Community College classes. She has been working on enrollment procedures for ACCSC accreditation and has represented us at area eight workforce development meetings. Northwest State Community College programs will continue into the next semester. We have maintained 100% retention. All students are earning college credit that can be applied to an Associate of Technical Studies Degree. Pete Weir has been working on schedules and preparing for our truck driving, wind turbine and pipe welding programs. We are scheduled to graduate students from the CNC and Industrial Maintenance programs this summer.
In new business, the Board:
– Approve the following supplemental contracts: MaryJo Wilhelm, Annette Klinger, Reesa Rohrs and Leigh Carey, “Step Into Your Future” as presented;
– Accept a donation of metal tubing, with the market value of $1521.64 from Advance Chassis of Antwerp, Ohio to be used in the welding classes;
– Accept a grant of $37,500.00 from the Van Wert County Foundation to be used to purchase electronic items. (Rothacker-Lampe Bequest);
– Resolution to approve the Van Wert Community Reinvestment Area Agreement between Harry Schaffner, 569 S. Chestnut St., Van Wert and Vantage Career Center;
– Resolution to approve the Van Wert Community Reinvestment Area Agreement between Warren Straley, 563 S. Chestnut St., Van Wert and Vantage Career Center;
– Approve a waiver day for staff on February 24, 2014 for the purpose of staff professional development;
– Approval of NEOLA new & revised policies (First reading was at the December meeting);
– Resolution to approve the 2014-15 Vantage Career Center school calendar;
– Resolution to approve the Van Wert City Board of Education representative, Debby Compton to serve on the Vantage Board Education effective January 8, 2014;
– Resolution to approve the Ottoville Board of Education representative, Kimberley Wannemacher to serve on the Vantage Board Education effective January 8, 2014;
– Resolution to approve the Ft. Jennings Board of Education representative, Cliff Wieging to serve on the Vantage Board Education effective January 8, 2014;
– Resolution to approve the Lincolnview Board of Education representative, Eric Germann to serve on the Vantage Board Education effective January 13, 2014;
– Resolution to approve the Continental Board of Education representative, Ron Bradford to serve on the Vantage Board Education effective January 8, 2014;
– Resolution to approve the Paulding Board of Education representative, Greg Reinhart to serve on the Vantage Board Education effective January 8, 2014.
The next Board meeting will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm in the District Office Conference Room.
