VWCS board takes personnel action

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education approved personnel items and also heard an update on elementary school projects during its final board meeting prior to the start of school.

The board approved contracts for Nancy Brown as a high school language arts teacher, Ashley Wharton as a LifeLinks language arts teacher, Jaime Gardner as a physical therapist’s assistant, and Beth Collins as a paraprofessional at the Van Wert Early Childhood Center.

Superintendent Ken Amstutz reported that staff began moving items into the new grades 1-5 elementary school building on August 14. He added that furniture is currently being delivered, while playground equipment should be coming either yet this week or early next week.

Amstutz said August 21 is the last day contractors will be in the building during school hours, adding that a walk-through of the building for the Community Advisory Council is planned for Monday, August 27. A community open house is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Sunday, September 9, a day before school starts on September 10.

The superintendent said the district has received a temporary occupancy permit for the building, meaning that the building is safe enough for occupancy, but items still need to be completed. Amstutz said punch-list items could still remain after the start of school, but that contractors are working to get as much done as possible before then.

The board also approved a number of change orders for the building, including a locally funded initiative totaling $100,850 to install a hard surface on the playground. That project was bid out and went to local contractor Alexander & Bebout.

Amstutz also said the Jefferson renovation is progressing, with brick now being selected for the exterior of the building.

Also Wednesday, the board approved a number of items related to the move of LifeLinks Community School from its site at Trinity Friends Church to the S.F. Goedde Building (old high school). LifeLinks will pay $2,500 a month in rent for space at the Goedde Building, but will not have to pay the cost of utilities, Amstutz noted.

The superintendent also said that high school teachers will implement the New Tech High School program to high school freshmen this coming school year. Amstutz noted that training is complete and teachers are “ready to go” with the new program.

In other action, the board:

• Accepted a donation of a sidewalk form the Cross Over the Hill religion program to connect the Cross Over the Hill Education Building with the new elementary school.
• Approved the middle school handbook, as well as cafeteria prices, for the coming school year.
• Authorized Amstutz and Kevin Gehres to serve as district representatives to the Van Wert Area Schools Insurance Group (VWASIG).
• Approved bus routes for the coming school year.
• Authorized the deposit of funds with Citizens National Bank of Bluffton and First National Bank N.A. for a five-year period.
• Authorized the superintendent and Treasurer Mike Ruen to enter into an agreement with Sheakley UniService Inc. as the district’s workers compensation third-party administrator.
• Approved student activity purpose statements and budgets for student activity funds and other funds as presented.
• Learned of the following advancements on the pay scale due to additional college coursework: Karen Emerine, Mary Kramer, Judy Krites and Mike Myers, master’s to master’s plus 15 hours; and Brittany Hayden, bachelor’s plus 150 hours to master’s degree.
• Approved the following additions to the certified substitute list for the 2012-2013 school year: Jonathan Crusie, Katie Germann, Melissa Messick, Tonya Sroufe and Lauren Tindall.
• Approved the following additions to the classified substitute list for the coming school year: Kelly Kemper, cafeteria; Deborah Miller, cafeteria and paraprofessional; and Julie Stemen, nurse.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel items with no action taken after the session.

The next meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be held Wednesday, September 19, at 5 p.m., in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.