Vantage: Nedderman 2011 president

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Vantage Board of Education reorganized on Thursday, re-electing Lonnie Nedderman, who represents Crestview Local Schools, as board president and selecting Lincolnview representative Sally Snyder as the board vice president for 2011.

The board took care of the usual housekeeping items as part of its organizational meeting and also adopted the school’s tax budget for 2011.

Treasurer Lori Davis also administered the oath of office to five board members who were elected to new two-year terms in November. Those sworn in include Nedderman, Dana Smith of Parkway, Les Hockenberry of Wayne Trace, Brian Laudick of Kalida and Robert Herber of Antwerp.

Kevin Landin of Ottoville was chosen as the Vantage board’s legislative liaison, while Ron Bradford of Continental was selected to be the student achievement liaison.

Davis was also reappointed as Vantage treasurer and chief financial officer, while Superintendent Staci Kaufman was appointed chief executive officer and purchasing agent for the school.

As part of its organizational duties, the board set meetings for the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. There were some exceptions to that, however, with the meeting to be held prior to Vantage’s all boards meeting on Thursday, April 7, to be held at 5:15 p.m.

The July meeting will also be held on June 30 at 7 p.m. because of a scheduling conflict on the normal date of Thursday, July 7.

During her report, Kaufman updated the board on the latest Administrative Advisory Committee meeting, with both her and Vantage Education Association President Larry Mengerink noting that the meeting was a productive one.

Kaufman also talked about possible partnerships Vantage is working on with alternative energy companies, including both wind and solar energy entities.

Also on hand Thursday was Jill Dewert, Vantage Interactive Media instructor, and two of her students, Dalton Raines and Logan Stuckey, both from Van Wert, who gave a presentation that included videos they created for the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year event.

In other news, the board:

• Set the compensation rate for board members at $125 per meeting.
• Approved the following supplemental contacts: Kevin VanOss, Step into Your Future event; and Patrick Jackson, Adam Smazenko and Michael Hoersten as student technology helpers.
• Employed the following Adult Education instructors on an as-needed, as-scheduled basis: Jeffrey Stittsworth, Welding; Stacie Leiter, Computer Literacy; Brett Whittington, Computers; and Edward Klausing, Vantage Police Academy.
• Adopted a number of items related to the Vantage facilities project, including items related to bidding of portions of the project.
• Heard Kaufman provide an update on the proposed Bob Brandt Scholarship. The superintendent said plans are to have both a high school student scholarship and one for Adult Education students as well. Likely amount for each would be $1,000, Kaufman noted.

The next Vantage Board of Education meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 10, in the Cup and Saucer dining area.