VWCS technology director retiring in 2015

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education heard a presentation for an Honor Flight school project and an update on the Early Childhood Center from Principal William Wisher during its March meeting Wednesday.

Two students in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and advisor Linda Ragan talked about a project the group undertook to provide blankets to veterans participating in the Honor Flight program, which transports veterans to Washington, D.C., to tour the various veterans’ memorials there.

The students noted that they had made 70 blankets for veterans flying to Washington from Fort Wayne, Ind. Students also noted they currently have sufficient funding to provide blankets for two more Honor Flights scheduled for this spring.

With four of the five school board members relatively new to the board, Wisher said he wanted to provide information on the Early Childhood Center (former Jefferson Elementary School) and the preschool and kindergarten students it serves.

During his brief report to the board, Superintendent Ken Amstutz talked about the district’s calamity days, stating that the school has canceled classes for 12 days this year because of inclement weather, but noted that the addition of four more calamity days this school year by the Ohio General Assembly will help the district hopefully avoid adding more than one day to the end of the school year.

Currently, the last day of school is scheduled for June 2, but Amstutz added that more days could be added if classes need to be canceled again before the end of the school year.

Also Wednesday, the board accepted the resignation, due to retirement, of John Butler, Van Wert High School computer teacher and district technology director, after 30 years with Van Wert City Schools. His resignation will take effect January 1, 2015.

Both Amstutz and Board President Mike Morrow praised Butler for the job he has done in maintaining the district’s technology system.

The board also accepted the resignation of speech-language pathologist Allison Sebastion after five years with the district and the resignation of Matt Hernandez as high school boys’ soccer coach for the 2013-2014 contract year.

Supplemental contracts for the current school year were also approved, as follows: Jay Royer and Nikki Staton as junior varsity softball coaches (each 50 percent).

Supplemental coaching contracts for the 2014-2015 school year include the following: Brendon Moody, boys’ and girls’ varsity cross country head coach; Kim Laudick, boys’ and girls’ cross country varsity assistant coach; Keith Recker, varsity football head coach; Jason Cross, Craig Syphrit, Ryan Parrish and Drew Golden, varsity football assistant coaches; Adam Tussing, freshman football coach; Jeff Hood, head golf coach; Matt Hernandez, boys’ varsity soccer head coach; Rich Nouza, girls’ head soccer coach; Chuck Rollins, girls’ tennis head coach; Vicki Smith, head volleyball coach; Ashley Holden, assistant volleyball coach; Diane Kiehl, freshman volleyball coach; Katie Parrish, high school football cheerleading coach; Betty Holliday, middle school boys’ cross country coach; Kylee Moody, middle school girls’ cross country coach; Charlie Witten, Mark Collins, Jay Royer and Seth Baer, middle school football coaches; Judy Krites, seventh grade volleyball coach; Tami Suzuki, eighth grade volleyball coach; Mamie Crippen, middle school football cheerleading coach; Shad Foster, athletic trainer; Trent Temple, middle school athletic director (34 percent); Kim Clifton, middle school fall site manager (33 percent); and Darla Dunlap, middle school winter site manager (33 percent).

Matt Krites was also approved as a volunteer volleyball assistant.

The board also adopted the 2014-2015 school calendar, which includes a full week off for spring break, as well as a four-day weekend at Easter. The last day of school is scheduled for Friday, May 29, with graduation will take place Sunday, May 31.

In other action, the board:

• Approved amended financial reports, including the official certificate of amended resources and amended permanent appropriations.
• Acknowledged the following charitable contributions: $1,500 for the John Fox Maney Business Scholarship and $1,500 for the Margaret Shaffer Maney Memorial Music Scholarship from Kevin and Dondra Maney; CBJ Farms ($100), Eaton Corporation ($500) and Walmart ($1,500) for the Van Wert High School Robotics Club; Action for Health Kids Inc. ($350) and Gen YOUth Foundation ($500) for the elementary Health Kids Wellness Program; First Federal Savings & Loan ($250), Martha Matthew Miller ($50) for the elementary 100 Mile Club; Edward and Tavie Buhl ($125) for the Van Wert City Endowment for Educators; Cooper Family Foundation, within the Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund, $1,000 for the Middle School Renaissance Program; Van Wert Fire Equipment Company, $100 for the Blessings in a Backpack senior project.
• Approved the satellite agreement with Van Wert City Schools and Vantage Career Center.
• Approved the revised 2013-2014 school calendar.
• Learned that Krista Baer will be advance on the district payscale from “bachelor’s degree plus 150 hours” to “master’s degree.”
• Added Frederick Fegley to the certified substitutes list.
• Went into executive session to discuss wage negotiations, with no action taken afterwards.

The next scheduled meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.