VWCS officials discuss school safety

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education discussed school safety and state funding figures during its February board meeting Wednesday in the First Federal Lecture Hall.

Superintendent Ken Amstutz reported on additional security measures being implemented in the newer school buildings, noting that cameras will be installed in entrance areas and visitors are now being buzzed in during school hours. Sensors are also a possibility to increase security on the back doors of school buildings. Amstutz added that similar measures were being looked at for the S.F. Goedde Building, but would likely be more expensive, due to the age and construction of the building.

He also said Ohio Senator Cliff Hite would be visiting the school on Friday, March 15. Amstutz added that he felt the visit by Hite, which is similar to one by Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper in late January, would be “a great opportunity” for the district — especially since Hite is a former educator and coach and a longtime friend of Amstutz’s.

The superintendent and Treasurer Mike Ruen also commented on school funding figures released as part of Ohio Governor John Kasich’s State of the State address and the upcoming state biennial budget, with Ruen noting that, while state funding figures indicate that district would receive approximately $1 million more in funding for the coming year, that number would likely be closer to $600,000 because some funding items now listed as separate from the foundation funding are now included in those funding numbers.

Amstutz said the district would be happy to receive additional funding, since it would help replace revenues lost over the last few years. As a cost-cutting measure, the superintendent also announced that Industrial Technology teacher Steve Thomas would not be replaced after he retired at the end of the year, noting that the program was no longer necessary, with the addition of the Project Lead the Way pre-engineering and Biomedical project-based programs.

Amstutz also talked about the upcoming levy renewal campaign, noting that members of the committee in charge of the levy campaign had their first meeting recently. With voting beginning April 2, the superintendent said it was hoped that information could be sent out to district voters starting in March.

Amstutz also told board members that an auction would be held to sell off surplus equipment and furniture at Washington Elementary School on March 2. Local auctioneer Bob Gamble will conduct the auction, which will be held at the school.

Also Wednesday, the board approved a number of personnel items, including accepting the resignation of paraprofessional Travis Boley and hiring Mark Herge II as his replacement.

Other personnel action is as follows:

• Approved coaching contracts for the following: Ed Jacobs as high school assistant wrestling coach, Charlie Witten as varsity baseball head coach, Chris Covey as freshman baseball coach, Mike McClure and Karen McClure as softball head coaches, Mitch Price as head varsity boys’ tennis coach, Mark Collins as boys’ head track coach, Nate Hoverman as girls’ head track coach, Brendon Moody and Coleman as girls’ assistant track coaches, Bob Priest as an assistant track coach, Bob Spath, Kerry Koontz and Mike Myers as VWMS track coaches.
• Also approved were the following volunteer coaches: Jeremy Kitson (high school baseball), Kathryn Mansfield (high school boys’ tennis), Connie Hoverman (girls’ track) and Ben Laudick (boys’ track).

In other action, the board:

• Approved a resolution awarding asbestos/haz-mat abatement work on the Washington and Franklin buildings to Midwest Environmental Control Inc.
• Approved a resolution authorizing a bid package for the demolition of those two buildings.

The next meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.