The Vantage Board of Education held their September Board meeting on Thursday, September 7,
2023 in the District Conference Room. During the board meeting, the minutes from the August 3, 2023
regular board meeting were approved along with financial statements for the month of June, 2023. The
Treasurer was approved to transfer funds from the general fund FY/24 Goals and accept Perkins grant
funds through Apollo Career Center. Permanent appropriations and revenues for the FY/24 were
approved.
Superintendent Rick Turner welcomed the following guests to the meeting: Sam Shriver with The
Times Bulletin, Scott Truxell with The VW Independent, Mr. Benjamin Winans, High School Director, Mrs.
Angie Fahy, Adult Education Director, and the following new staff: Brent Hoersten, Electricity Instructor,
Cheyenne Oechsle, Social Studies Instructor, Eric Schwab, Intervention Specialist, Pearce Dietrich,
Intervention Specialist, Nichole Shepard, Cafeteria, Audree Markward, Health Technology, Nicole Ricker,
Superintendent Secretary, and Cindy Bowsher, Substitute/ Education Aide.
Mr. Turner also spoke about and highlighted the following items at the meeting:
➢ We have had an excellent start to the school year. Our staff and students have done an amazing
job, even though we had a couple of fog cancellations including on the first day of school for our
new students. Our team adapted to the schedule change and everything went very smoothly to
begin the year. I want to personally thank our staff and students for their flexibility and their
commitment to get the year off to a great start.
➢ Preparations for the Build Your Future event at the fairgrounds on September 20th continue.
Vantage students and instructors will provide contextual learning experiences for area 9th and
10th graders in the disciplines of carpentry, construction equipment, welding, electricity, and
HVAC. We anticipate having well over 500 students participate in this event.
➢ Menke Brothers Construction has the footers poured for the new spec house at 502 North Walnut
street here in Van Wert. We anticipate them pouring the foundation over the next couple of weeks.
Once that cures, our carpentry students will begin framing the structure. Their goal is to get it
closed in before colder weather hits..
➢ Our IT department conducted training with local law enforcement on our security camera system
in preparation for the school year. Law enforcement agencies now have access to our camera
systems in the event of an emergency to help them better respond to a specific situation.
➢ Congratulations to Angie Fahy for graduating from the Van Wert Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Program this week. The community project for the class was installation of fencing at
the fairgrounds. They raised the money to purchase the fencing and installed it back in August.
Great job Angie.
Vantage High School Director Benjamin Winans reported that the staff inservice day that took
place on August 18th included meeting new staff and discussing the goal of working toward
continuing to Enhance Marketing and Expanding Community Engagement. The school year
opened on August 22nd for both new and returning students, as school was canceled on August
21st due to fog. Students are settling into their labs and classrooms. Mr. Winans also reported the
following upcoming events:
➢ Monday, September 4- No School- Labor Day
➢ Friday, September 8 – Student Appreciation Day
➢ Wednesday, September 13 – College Night
➢ Wednesday, September 20 – Build Your Future
➢ Friday, September 29 – United Way/ Day of Caring
➢ Tuesday, October 3 – NTHS Banquet
Adult Education Director Angie Fahy reported that the Vantage Career Center’s CDL class trained
26 students this summer. EMT and Phlebotomy are now enrolling. LPN-RN testing has begun for
the next enrollment period.
In new business, the Board:
➢ Approved employment for a dishwasher, STNA Coordinator/ Instructor, and Phlebotomy
Instructor
➢ Approved a list of supplemental contracts for Virtual Graders
➢ Approved one salary schedule column movement
➢ Approved employment for adult education instructors
➢ Appointed Mr. Winans as the District Homeless Liaison
➢ Approved overnight and out-of-state travel for two adult education personnel
➢ Approved the Van Wert Area Business Advisory Council (BAC) business plan
➢ Approved pay rates for Adult Education
➢ Approved a resolution to change all Board Policies and Guidelines to reflect references to ODE that
are now DEW. (Department of Education and Workforce)
➢ Approved payment of a mentor
➢ Accepted three resignations
Outside of Consent Agenda Items
➢ NONE
Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(1), the Superintendent hereby requests that the Board
adjourn to executive session for the purpose of considering personnel matters of the school district.
Adjournment -at the call of the President and at the pleasure of the Vantage Career Center Board of
Education.
Next meeting – Thursday, October 5, 2023
Records Committee Meeting at 6:15 p.m.
Board of Education Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
In District Conference Room
Regular Board Meeting
