Vantage building project on schedule

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Vantage Board of Education members received a construction update from Project Manager Chad Stevers of Gilbane Builders, who noted that, while the work had fallen behind earlier on the new construction portion of the project, the contractor and subcontractors had put more people on the job and were now essentially back on schedule on the project.

Stevers added that the new construction portion should be under roof before winter starts, allowing work to continue inside during the cold-weather months. Phase 2 of the project, which is the renovation portion, is also on schedule, the project manager said.

Stevers also noted that the project was under budget as well, but said the tight timeline for getting the new additions completed before the planned spring break move-in date in April could continue to create problems for workers.

He also noted that future bid openings for the project could be a concern, not from a money standpoint, since there’s substantial contingency funds built into the project, but from a time standpoint because of the April deadline.

“Money is not the problem,” Stevers said, noting that, while he is doing some things to protect the budget, the big problem is the possibility of having to rebid portions of the project, which would take time — something contractors don’t have to spare.

Of special concern are technology bids, Stevers noted, since failure to install technology items by spring could cause significant problems for the project. “We are talking to some bidders and, if we need to, we can pull some things out as alternates just to protect the budget” and avoid a rebid.

During her report, Superintendent Staci Kaufman noted that the project was “maybe a day behind” schedule, but expected everything to be completed on time.

The project does offer some practical experience for some Vantage students. Students in Vantage’s Junior Builders Program will be job shadowing construction workers, something construction workers are looking forward to, Stevers said. The interaction will begin with a meeting to be held today, while more meetings are planned the first Friday of each month during the life of the project.

Board members were given the option of rebricking some older areas of the building to match up better with new bricks, but felt the cost (approximately $100,000) was excessive for what is, essentially, esthetics.

The board did discuss residing the older portion of the building, since Stevers said that cost would not be out of line, although using high-performance paint was something Stevers said he could not recommend. The board will make a final decision on residing at the December board meeting, which will be the final meeting for six board members: Ken Mengerink of Van Wert, Sally Snyder of Lincolnview, Ron Bradford of Continental, Kevin Landin of Ottoville, Greg Reinhart of Paulding and Karl Schimmoeller of Fort Jennings. Les Hockenberry of Wayne Trace, who is also going off the board at the end of the year, but can’t attend the December meeting, was thanked by Kaufman for his service to Vantage.

In other news, the board:

• Offered supplemental contracts to Mary Jane Fast and Fran White, Health Technology clinicals; Robin Burns, banquet supervisor; Marcia Osenga, Penny Baucom, Cindy Harting, Steve Mercer, Diana Becker, Annette Klinger, Karen McGilton, Lori Allen, Nancy Keith, Vicki Smith and Mary Ann Hall, adult banquet workers; and Taylor Bowers, Amanda Carlisle, Austin Clark, Nickolas Coup, Benjamin Dwyer, Cora Finfrock, Victoria Girardot, Bethanee Grote, Mark Inkrott, Saundra Marquart, John Parsons, Jazzlyn Smith, Joseph Smith, Julie Whitten, Ashley Wurst, Allan Zimmer, Alexis Cummings, Emily Flaugh, Kayla Garb, Alexandrea Gross, Edward Hibbard, Caleb Lovejoy, Rebekahlynette Mason, Dewayne Price and Storm Sensabaugh, student banquet workers.
• Employed the following Adult Education instructors: Deb Venderley, Health Careers; Rosanah Foster, ABLE; Larry Ray CNC instructor; Deb Richardson, CCOS instructor; and Larry Longwell and Jeffrey Stittsworth, Welding instructors.
• Approved a resolution denoting Straley Realty and Auctioneers as auctioneer for the November 12 public auction of older equipment being replaced during the building project.
• Approved a Community Reinvestment Area agreement between Hickory Grove Estates and Vantage Career Center.
• Approved an agreement and bylaws authorizing the reorganization of the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Service Cooperative as a regional council of governments, effective July 1, 2012.
• Approved a revised ABLE contract with Lima City Schools, which is the fiscal agent for the program.
• Authorized Vantage students to work on Habitat for Humanity house projects during the 2011-2012 school year.
• Went into executive session to discuss matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or regulations, or state statute, with no action taken afterwards.
• Met new special education instructor Shane Falke. Falke thanked board members for the opportunity to teach at the school and apologi

The next meeting of the Vantage Board of Education will be 6 p.m. Thursday, December 1, in the C-10 science classroom prior to the holiday dinner in the Cup and Saucer restaurant.