VWES principal retiring, students speak

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education accepted the resignation of a retiring principal, as well as a longtime staff member, and also watched a group of fifth-graders demonstrate a literature circle discussion during the board’s April meeting on Wednesday.

Board members accepted the resignation of Van Wert Elementary School Principal Beth Runnion, who plans to retire, effective December 19, after 30 years in education, 15½ of those with the Van Wert City Schools.

Staff member Darla Jean Kovar is also retiring, effective May 30, after 31 years of service to the district, while the board also accepted the resignation of VWHS English teacher Michelle Stoller, effective the end of the current school year.

Board members also listened to a demonstration of a project-based program conducted by seven students in Nate Hoverman’s fifth-grade class. The students were assigned the book, Bud, Not Buddy, written by Christopher Paul Curtis. During their demonstration, the students talked about a number of elements of the book, which tells the story of a young black boy looking for his father during the Great Depression.

Also Wednesday, the board accepted a number of donations, including the following:

A $500 donation to the Van Wert High School Robotics Club and a $125 donation to the Van Wert City Endowment for Educators by the Van Wert Service Club; a $125 donation by The Van Wert County Foundation to the Van Wert City Endowment for Educators; and a $500 donation by United Way of Van Wert County for the Family and Children First Council.

In other personnel action, the board hired a new elementary art teacher, Alicia Zacharias of Celina. Superintendent Ken Amstutz first apologized to the board for the last-minute addition of Zacharias to the board agenda, but explained that those who interviewed applicants for the art teacher’s position felt Zacharias was their choice, and were concerned that she would take another position if they waited to hire her.

Several supplemental contracts were also dealt with during the meeting. The board accepted the resignation of Nikki Staten as a half-time junior varsity softball coach and hired Ashley Holden to fill that position. The board also approved Alan Carr as a volunteer baseball coach for the current school year.

Supplemental contracts were also approved for Senior Project teachers. They include Nancy Brown, Myrna Hamrick and Keith Utendorf, all contracted for two classes, and Natoshia Wilhelm, who will teach one class.

The board also authorized a new agreement allowing the district to act as the administrative agent for the Van Wert County Family and Children First Council for a two-year period beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2016, and approved the district’s amended certificate of estimated resources for Fiscal Year 2014 and amended FY 2013 permanent appropriations.

The next scheduled meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, in the First Federal Lecture Hall.