VWCS honors bd. members, hears reports

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education honored two colleagues who are leaving the board at the end of the year and also accepted the resignations of four longtime employees during its December meeting held Wednesday in the First Federal Lecture Hall.

Board members Ken Mengerink and Marylou Smith both received decorative school bells from Superintendent Ken Amstutz and handshakes from Board President Mike Morrow in recognition for their service to the board.

The board also accepted the resignations, due to retirement, of three teachers and a fourth longtime employee. Those retiring at the end of the school year include Colleen Hoghe, Van Wert Middle School paraprofessional and bus driver, after 23 years with the district; Mary Pelton, a second-grade teacher at Franklin Elementary, after 34 years in the district; Carol Taylor, a fourth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary, after 35 years in the district; and Linda Thomas, VWMS science teacher, after 22 years in education, 16 of those in the city schools.

Also attending Wednesday’s board meeting was architect Kraig Beilharz, who updated the board on construction at the new grades 1-5 elementary building and on the bid process for renovating the Jefferson Elementary School building.

There was some bad news in the report, namely the fact that the grades 1-5 elementary project is behind schedule at this point, due to the rain the area has received this fall. Beilharz noted that contractors missed the “dry-in” date — the date when the project needs to be roofed over and heating units connected so inside work can continue through the winter — but he was still optimistic the project would be roofed and heated soon.

The architect said three of the five grade-level wings have are roofed over and ready for winter work, adding that the remaining two wings could be roofed in two weeks … if the rains would end.

Exterior work is another story, though, Beilharz said, adding that muddy conditions resulting from the rain are hampering exterior work at the site.

“Site work, for all practical purposes, has come to a screeching halt just due to the mud,” the architect told the board, noting that large stones had to be brought in for base work to combat effects of the mud.

Beilharz estimated that the project would approximately three weeks behind schedule, but said masonry work was essentially on schedule at this point. The issue now, he said, was how well contractors could overcome problems and get the remaining portions of the building roofed in and temporary heat installed so that mechanical systems, such as ductwork, permanent heating elements, and sprinklers, can be installed on schedule.

Beilharz told board members he would be able to tell them more about where the project stands by the end of January.

News was also mixed on the Jefferson Elementary renovation project. Beilharz said cost estimates for that project, for which drawings and specifications have been completed, are approximately $600,000 over budget, but noted that includes all of the alternative bid packages. Currently, architects and project managers are working to eliminate some alternate packages to get the project within cost estimates.

Beilharz said plans are still to bid the project in February so that work can start when classes end in late May.

In his report, Amstutz again discussed the New Tech High School program scheduled to begin implementation in the 2012-2013 school year. The superintendent said he was trying to clear up misconceptions about the program, noting that New Tech — essentially project-based learning — differs substantially from the group learning programs that have been around for years.

“Project-based learning is, quit simply, a different organization, a different method,” Amstutz said, adding that the new program is just another “tool in the toolbox” educators use to facilitate learning among students.

The superintendent also added that, with project-based learning likely to be mandated in the state within the next few years, the city schools would move ahead of most Ohio school districts by implementing the program now, using a $750,000 grant earmarked for that purpose.

“I truly believe this is the right direction for our school district,” Amstutz said. “It is the right thing for us to be doing at this time.”

Amstutz did note that, like New Tech schools visited by local school officials — including Viking New Tech in Huntington, Ind. — all courses will not be taught as project-based learning, noting that some math classes don’t lend themselves as well to project-based learning.

In other action, the board:

• Approved the following supplemental contracts for the 2011-2012 school year: Trent Temple, VWMS athletic director (34 percent); Cayla Wise, VWMS winter cheerleading coach (1 percent); and Danae Westgerdes, VWMS winter cheerleading coach (5 percent).
• Approved the following supplemental contracts for the 2012-2013 school year: Brendon Moody, varsity boys’ cross country coach; Kim Laudick, varsity girls’ cross country coach; Jeff Hood, head golf coach; George Scott, varsity boys’ soccer coach; Matt Hernandez and Luke Swartz, varsity boys’ assistant soccer coaches; Rick Nouza, varsity girls’ soccer coach; Larry Lamb, assistant girls’ soccer coach; Mitch Price, girls’ tennis head coach; Vicki Smith, volleyball head coach; Ashley Holden, assistant volleyball coach; Amy Honigford, freshman volleyball coach; Betty Holliday, VWMS boys’ cross country coach; Kylee Moody, VWMS girls’ cross country coach; Tracy Keber, seventh grade volleyball coach (10 percent) and Katie Harting, seventh grade volleyball coach (90 percent); Judy Krites, eighth grade volleyball coach; Danae Westgerdes, VWMS fall cheerleading coach; Trent Temple, VWMS athlete director (34 percent); Kim Clifton, VWMS fall site manager (33 percent); and Darla Dunlap, VWMS winter site manager (33 percent).
• Heard several reports, including one on the Van Wert Area Schools Insurance Group (VWASIG) and on the Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation (VWAPAF). Amstutz and Treasurer Mike Ruen both reported on losses VWASIG has taken over the last eight months and noted that some suggestions would be made to overcome large payouts made during that time and keep health insurance premiums from having to increase substantially. Mengerink, who currently sits on the VWAPAF board, said the Niswonger Performing Arts Center earned a profit of more than $30,000 on the five holiday concerts recently completed. Only one of the concerts, the Ballet Theatre of Toledo’s production of The Nutcracker, lost money, Mengerink indicated, and that loss was minimal. The big moneymaker was the recent sold-out concert featuring John Tesh, which made more than $13,000. The two Kenny G concerts also made money, but not as much as hoped, largely because of greater-than-anticipated production costs.
• Appointed Ken Markward president pro-tempore for the upcoming board organizational meeting in January. Markward was also appointed to represent the board on the Vantage Board of Education.
• Approved the following volunteer coaches: Brad Doidge, golf; and Kathryn Mansfield, tennis.