Vantage girls’ STEM mini-camp held

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Vantage Board of Education heard a report on the school’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Mini-Camp held this week to provide encouragement to girls interested in non-traditional careers, such as engineering.

The camp was funded by a $3,000 grant from Eaton Corporation, and included 40 participants from the YWCA’s Summer Food Program.

MaryJo Wilhelm, community relations coordinator for Vantage, talked about the program, which provided information on a variety of subjects, including Cooper Foods’ wind turbines and Vantage’s solar panel array as part of an alternative energy day, and a special agriculture day at Kennedy-Kuhn implement dealership, a day on mathematics and a fossil hunt at Lafarge Corporation.

Also making presentations during the mini-camp were Jill Luginbill, a project engineer at Eaton Corporation, and Meagan Hall, a mechanical engineer who works for Alliance Automation.

A number of Vantage staff were also involved in the project, including EMIS Coordinator Gail Gillett, Ag & Industrial Technology teacher Mike Miller, Trade & Industrial Supervisor Ted Verhoff, Network Systems teacher Larry Regedanz, Electricity instructor Mel White, math teacher Kelly Horstman, science teacher Daniel Joyce, and administrative assistants Annette Klinger and Vicki Smith.

The board also received good news from Treasurer Lori Davis, who noted that Vantage generated $865,000 more in revenues than it paid out in expenses during Fiscal Year 2013. Davis said Vantage continues to spend down funds generated through the Ohio School Facilities Commission construction/renovation project.

The treasurer also recommended using a debt collection group for collections, noting that the organization is not charging Vantage anything for the service, since the school would be a pilot program, and there is no contract involved.

Vantage Director Ben Winans noted that Vantage teachers are undergoing training needed for statewide standards changes developed by the Ohio Department of Education. He also reported that Vantage has received delivery of a new full-size van and an auto and will be purchasing other vehicles, including a new school bus, this coming year.

Adult Education Director Pete Prichard talked about a cooperative effort between Vantage and the Van Wert Economic Development Office to determine what job skills workers will need to meet requirements of local businesses.

Absent from the meeting was Superintendent Staci Kaufman, who is currently in Portugal for the Rotary International convention held in Lisbon. Kaufman is currently president of the Van Wert Rotary Club.

In personnel action, the board approved the hiring of Darrel Miller as attendance/discipline officer, and Lucas Compton as technology support specialist.

The following Adult Education employees were also hired on an as-needed, as-scheduled basis: Annette Klinger, substitute secretary; Vicki Bidlack, Police Academy assistant and Trade & Industry employee; and Glenn Schenk, Police Academy assistant.

A Community Reinvestment Act agreement between the City of Van Wert and the Clair and Arlene Dudgeon Trust was also approved.

The board also authorized a contract for property, fleet and liability insurance with the Ohio Schools Risk Sharing Authority consortium as a cost of $48,056.

Authorized an agreement with the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Services Cooperative for computer services during the upcoming school year.

Authorized a transfer of $225,040 from the General Fund to the Maintenance Fund to meet Vantage’s obligation to provide maintenance funds for the OSFC construction/renovation project. Davis said the fund would continue to build until a major expenditure, such as roof repairs, occurred.

The next meeting of the Vantage Board of Education will be Thursday, August 1, at 6 p.m. in the district conference room.