Vantage holds 2013 ‘All Boards’ Dinner

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Vantage Career Center held its 36th annual All Boards Dinner in the school commons area and, in a change from past years, let three of its top students speak of their experiences at the local vocational school.

Matt Burgei, son of Gary and Karen Burgei of Ottoville and a senior in Vantage’s Industrial Mechanics program, made his presentation in video form, since he is currently on his school’s senior class trip to New York City.

Burgei thanked teacher Kevin Van Oss for not only teaching him about industrial mechanics, but for also being a positive role model.

Burgei plans to major in accounting at the University of Toledo in the fall, so that he can have knowledge of industry from both the mechanical and finance sides.

Tressa Ringwald, daughter of Cindy Friedrich and a senior in Vantage’s Interactive Media program, talked about how teacher Jill Dewert helped her gain confidence in her abilities and as a person.

Ringwald, whose home school is Lincolnview, plans to attend Bowling Green State University and major in art education.

Cora Finfrock, the daughter of Delta Dingus and a senior in Vantage’s culinary arts program — the class that prepared Thursday’s dinner eaten by board members and administrators from 15 school districts served by Vantage – also talked about how much she has learned at Vantage and how much her instructor, Robin Burns, has helped her in her studies, and in life.

Finfrock, whose home school is Crestview, plans to major in travel and hospitality at International Business College in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Other culinary arts students who helped with the dinner include Brittany Harruff of Delphos, Jereka Speith and Raymond Snyder of Crestview, Joe Smith of Paulding, Ben Dwyer of Lincolnview, Angel Lucas of Van Wert, and Donovan Carnahan of Wayne Trace. Also helping were adult workers Marcia Osenga and Cindy Harting.

Vantage Superintendent Staci Kaufman emceed the dinner, which also included a video showcasing the various Vantage programs.

Jennifer Stiff, an attorney with Scott, Scriven & Wahoff law firm in Columbus, was a special guest at the dinner.

Personnel items were the main agenda items for the brief April meeting of the Vantage Board of Education held prior to the dinner.

The board accepted the resignation of longtime Vantage social studies teacher Peg Bollenbacher, who is retiring at the end of the year, while also non-renewing Buildings and Grounds educational aide Brenda Wurst’s contract. Kaufman said Wurst’s position is typically non-renewed each year, but is reinstated if enough students enroll in the Buildings and Grounds program.

A number of people were also hired to teach at Vantage in both the high school and Adult Education programs.

Those given contracts in the high school program include: Ashley Kline, a two-year contract as special education coordinator; Leigh Carey, a one-year contract as a Health Technologies instructor; Paula Getz, a one-year contract as a Medical Office Management instructor; Amy Grothouse, a continuing contract as a Cosmetology instructor; Daniel Joyce, a continuing contract as a science teacher; Jaime Kipfer, a two-contract as a math teacher; Michelle Knippen, a one-year contract as a special education teacher; Matt Miller, a two-year contract as a science teacher; Mike Miller, a two-year contract as an Ag Diesel instructor; Larry Regedanz, a one-year contract as a Network Systems instructor; Sherryl Proctor, a two-year contract as a math teacher; Angie Shellabarger, a two-year contract as special education coordinator; Susan Smith, a four-year contract as a Cosmetology instructor; Tony Unverferth, a continuing contract as a social studies teacher; and Kent Taylor and Mel White, four-year contracts as Electricity instructors.

The following Adult Education instructors were hired on an as-needed, as-scheduled basis: Kevin Taylor, Police Academy; Deborah Venderley, Health Careers; ad Michael Miller, Trade & Industry.

In other action, the board:

• Approved overnight travel to Haiti for Student Interact Club business from April 4-12 for Kaufman, Bollenbacher and Matt Miller.
• Accepted a memorandum of understanding between Vantage and its Vantage Teachers Organization to amend the 2013-2014 school calendar, and then approved the calendar for that school year.
• Approved a Community Reinvestment Area agreements with Kalida Manufacturing Inc. and Remlinger Manufacturing Company, both in Kalida.
• Approved an agreement for career technical program services with Delphos City Board of Education.
• Supported an Enterprise Zone agreement with InSource Technologies of Paulding (Vantage will receive payments in lieu of taxes).
• Approved satellite agreements with Van Wert City Board of Education and Paulding Exempted Village Board of Education.
• Authorized the awarding of an annual “Robert Brandt Adult Education Scholarship” through an endowment to be administered by the Paulding County Area Foundation.
• Went into executive session to discuss employment of personnel, with no action taken afterwards.

The next meeting of the Vantage Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2, in the district conference room.