VWCS board looks at financial numbers

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education accepted the resignation of LifeLinks director Kim Nellis after a year in that position and also looked some less-than-inspiring financial numbers from Treasurer Mike Ruen during its May meeting on Wednesday.

Superintendent Ken Amstutz noted that Nellis was accepting another position and thanked her for her efforts in getting the LifeLinks program going.

“I want to thank Kim for the time and effort she put in to getting LifeLinks up and running,” Amstutz said. The superintendent told the board that Special Education Coordinator Shawn Deitemeyer would taking over as LifeLinks director, which would also result in some “reshuffling” of the special education department.

A celebration is also scheduled for the LifeLinks program, which Amstutz said had a successful first year.

A groundbreaking ceremony will also be held for the new elementary school project at 1 p.m. Monday, June 6, at the new school site.

Ruen’s five-year forecast held some less-than-pleasant news for the board. The district treasurer noted that, if the current 1-percent income tax is not renewed in 2013, the school district General Fund would have a negative balance of $6.4 million by 2015. Even with passage of the levy, the shortfall in 2015 would still be $4.1 million, Ruen said.

The early phase-out of the tangible personal property tax was cited as one reason for the declining revenues, while property taxes in general are expected to decrease from $1.6 million this year to $680,000 in 2015.

Ruen’s forecast did hold out some hope that a combination of a better financial situation at the state level, coupled with increased tax revenues locally if the economy completes its recovery, would allow the district to weather the financial storm. He also noted that the large number of retiring teachers would also have a positive effect, financially, on the district.

In his report to the board, Amstutz also talked about the district’s House Bill 264 energy conservation project, while the board also approved advertising for bids to improve the entrances to both the high school and middle school. Bids are expected to be opened in early June.

The board approved issuing $475,000 in energy conservation notes for the HB 264 project, which would be repaid using energy savings from the project in the coming years.

Amstutz did say, though, that roof repairs at the S.F. Goedde Building, which was to be part of the HB 264 project, could be postponed if cash-flow problems occurred during construction of the new elementary building and renovations at Jefferson Elementary School.

Also Wednesday, the board hired two new teachers – high school business teacher Katie Majewski and high school social studies teacher George Scott III. Scott will also be the high school soccer coach.

Lance Moonshower was also approved as the head coach for the girls’ basketball program.

In other action, the board:

• Accepted, with thanks, donations of $125 each from Edward and Tavie Buhl and Tim Stoller for the Van Wert City Schools Endowment Fund for Educators.
• Approved the following summer school high school staff for this summer: Cory Clifton, Treg Fortman, Jordan Scheidt and Kyle Scheidt.
• Approved the following high school summer school teaching staff: Sandy Adams, government; Wendy Howell, OFT science; Michelle Stoller, OGT language arts; Cindy Thomas and Charlie Witten, OGT math; and Jennifer Trittschuh and Jeff Kallas, OGT social studies.
• Approved the following middle school summer school teaching staff: Ed Clark and Jay Royer, summer school teachers.
• Accepted the Class of 2011, as submitted, for graduation purposes. Graduation will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 5, in the VWHS gymnasium.
• Approved the administrative agent agreement between the school and the Van Wert County Family and Children First Council.
• Approved seeking a waiver for the Body Mass Index requirements.
• Authorized a supplemental contract for Melissa Utrup for the Building Leadership Team during this school year.

The next scheduled meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.