Vantage approves new salary agreements

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Vantage Board of Education approved employee agreements during its July meeting, although raises for administrative positions were amended prior to passage.

Following a lengthy executive session, Vantage board members approved three-year contracts for the Vantage Teacher Organization, non-teaching employees and various administrative personnel.

The teachers and non-teaching classified staff members received similar agreements, calling for a zero percent increase on their base salary amount in the first year, but a 1 percent stipend to be added to salary. In the second year, employees will get a half-percent raise on base, but no seniority step advancement, while the third year calls for a 1-percent salary increase and vertical advancement on the salary schedule.

Salaries of administrators were amended following the executive session. The agenda had first included proposed raises of 2.75 percent in the first year and a 1-percent stipend, a half-percent increase in the second year, plus a half-percent base salary increase and no step advancement and a salary increase of 4.28 percent, a 1-percent base increase and average salary movement, where each employee moves two steps in the third year.

That was amended to 2-percent salary increases in each of the three years of the contract, with retire-rehire employees not receiving the salary increased, but just a 1-percent stipend. Those receiving the 2-percent increase include Superintendent Staci Kaufman and Treasurer Lori Davis.

All three agreements were adopted unanimously by Vantage board members.

Larry Mengerink, Vantage Teachers Organization president, had stated that the original administrative salary increases were too high, with the teachers and non-teaching staff receiving much lower increases during the length of the three-year contract. However, the 2-percent increases are fairer, since administrators did not take salary hike last year because of the tax levy, and the fact that they do not receive seniority step increases.

In addition to salary agreements, the board approved the transfer of $225,040 to fulfill Vantage’s obligation to set aside maintenance funds as part of its Ohio School Facilities Commission renovation-construction project. Kaufman also gave a brief update on the facilities project, noting that it was mostly on schedule at this time. Board members were also given a tour of the project prior to the board meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Employed Mike Miller as the Ag Diesel instructor and issued a supplemental contract to Daniel Joyce as school improvement coordinator.
• Employed the following as Adult Education instructors, as needed, as scheduled: Cary Hengstler, STNA instructor; Alex Rompilla, alternative energy coordinator; James Steele, fire protection; Brett Whittington, Stacie Leiter, Nancy Potter, computer instructors; Ron Schumm, FBPA consultant; Leis Yinger, James Fast, ABLE instructors; Jackie Brandt, Public Safety programs manager; Mike Kirkendall, Health Careers; Bruce Showalter, Police Academy; and Jane Collis, office/computers.
• Approved a revised job description for the school improvement coordinator.
• Renewed a participation agreement with the Ohio Schools Risk Sharing Authority, a consortium for property, fleet and liability insurance.
• Approved a computer services agreement with the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Services Cooperative.
• Authorized the purchase of a Betenbender hydraulic shear from Ornamental Products Tool & Supply for approximately $35,000 for the new welding lab.
• Approved a policy for Adult Education use of social media.
• Authorized an overnight trip for SkillsUSA leadership camp at Hocking College in Nelsonville for two students and an instructor from July 18-22.
• Accepted cafeteria bids from Aunt Millie’s Bakeries for bread and Arp’s Dairy for milk for the coming school year.
• Authorized the superintendent to enter into an agreement with Straley Realty to auction off the Vantage Carpentry Class house at 1275 Madison Blvd. and the Vantage Building and Grounds program houses at 408 and 410 N. Race St.
• Approved using Dr. Joseph Kuhn of Payne as the physician conducting school bus and van physicals until April 13, 2013.
• Accepted, with thanks, a grant of $24,500 from The Van Wert County Foundation to purchase electronics items as part of the Rothacker-Lampe bequest to Vantage.
• Accepted, with thanks, a grant from the Patricia M. Lichtensteiger Memorial Fund for Vantage’s literacy program.
• Approved school lunch prices for the coming year.

The next meeting of the Vantage Board of Education will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 4, in the Cup & Saucer.