Vantage has positive financial forecast

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Vantage Board of Education members heard a positive five-year forecast and also approved a Community Reinvestment Act tax abatement request in the Paulding County village of Antwerp during their May meeting on Thursday.

Superintendent Staci Kaufman said the five-year forecast was positive, mostly because of increased tax revenues, some of those coming from the Robert P. Mone power plant near Convoy, which now pays its full tax bill following the end of a tax abatement program.

The board also approved a CRA request for the village of Antwerp for a new $460,000 medical office building for dentist Sarah Mowery. As is standard with Vantage tax abatement agreements, the CRA includes a 2-percent payment in lieu of tax compensation.

The board also approved satellite agreements with Van Wert City Schools and Paulding Exempted Village Schools, and approved a memorandum of understanding with Apollo Career Center related to an ABLE literacy program grant from the Ohio Board of Regents.

In personnel action, the board employed David DeLano as the new Buildings and Grounds program instructor, replacing retiring teacher Larry Mengerink, and also hired Samantha Heckler as an intervention specialist, David Leathers as a second-shift custodial/maintenance worker and Derek Foy as a student banquet worker.

Michelle Knippen was given supplemental contracts as a resident educator mentor and facilitator, while Mary Ann Falk received a supplemental contract as a resident educator facilitator.

Bradley Barton was also hired as Adult Education transition coordinator on an as-needed, as-scheduled basis.

The board also approved overnight travel for the students to attend the National FCCLA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., from July 4-10, and reviewed the first reading of a number of new and revised policies recommended by NEOLA.

The board also went into executive session to discuss personnel items, with no action taken afterwards.

The next meeting of the Vantage Board of Education will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4, in the district conference room.