Vantage board hires adult ed instructors

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Vantage Career Center Board of Education members approved a number of Ohio Technical Center (adult education) instructors, moved toward finding a replacement for High School/Facilities Director Ben Winans, reviewed a senior profile for Vantage’s Class of 2016, and approved a recommendation to reject the appeal of a student’s expulsion during its June meeting Thursday.

The board first heard from Mary Ann Hall, who brought with her a plaque denoting her honorary membership in the Ohio FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America). Hall, who has taught 31 years at Vantage — 44 years overall — has been involved in a number of FCCLA activities and events over the years.

“I had the opportunity of working with many students, going to nationals over the years, so it’s been a great experience to work here and accept one as part of the administrative team and the FCCLA teachers who worked with me to accomplish this goal,” said Hall, who is now Career Tech supervisor.

Superintendent Staci Kaufman noted Hall’s many years of involvement in the FCCLA program.

“Mary Ann didn’t begin to tell you all of the dedication and time that she spent as a teacher in the classroom sharing, steering, guiding, and helping students to come up with projects and developing their projects with them,” the superintendent said, “helping them make it a well-rounded project that served the community or helped them expand their own intellect in early childhood.

“While not in the classroom (now), she’s transporting kids, she’s getting them to competition, she’s helping to chaperone them while they’re there, and she’s also sharing in the joy they have when they are called on stage and presented awards,” Kaufman added. “She’s been a great representative of the Vantage district and we couldn’t thank you more for your service.”

Treasurer Laura Peters talked about a new free website Vantage is using for investment information and advice and also talked about training she is taking on the school’s new MUNIS financial management software, as well as work being done to end Vantage’s 2015-16 school year.

Prior to his report, the board congratulated Winans for recently being named the new superintendent of Wayne Trace Local Schools. Later in the meeting, the board met in executive session to set up a process for hiring his replacement.

Winans talked about the Class of 2016’s class profile, noting that this year’s graduation rate was down slightly from 2015, from 98.5 percent last year to 97.5 percent this year. A total of 158 students graduated, while four students did not do so, the Vantage high school/facilities director said.

Of those graduating, 69 students plan to continue their education at a trade school or two- or four-year college or university, while 31 have no work plans at this time. Winans said Vantage employee Mike Knott has contacted Spherion Staffing to help those students find employment, with two already being hired through that company.

The board also authorized the purchase of a high-speed, high-precision Robodrill Fanuc CNC machine with fifth axis from Integrated Systems Technologies at a cost of $35,662. The machine was paid for through a RAMTEC grant the school received in conjunction with other career centers. Also purchased were 50 mobile laptops, 680 Chromebooks, and 19 carts from Xtek Partners Inc.

In personnel action taken Thursday, board members approved a list of OTC workers for the upcoming school year, while also accepting the resignation of cook Debra Wiess and Paulding ag teacher Jeanne Windsor.

OTC and other employees hired include the following: Bruce Showalter, Police Academy coordinator; Robert Black, James Bennett, Steven Boroff, Shane Lee, Adam Wehage, Keith Williamson, Kip Wright, Kevin Taylor, Glenn Schenk, Robert Miller, Matthew McDougal, Edward Klausing, Jeffrey Hammons, Kyle Fittro, Mark Figert, Brian Christopher, Chad Cupples, Shawn Cook, Gary Dilworth, Michael Dirr, Dillon Staas IV, Ronald Joseph, Robert Garcia, and Virginia Hammons, Police Academy assistants; Shirley Jarvis, STNA coordinator; Ron Schumm, FBPA coordinator/OTC instructor; Kristie Jones, OTC lead coordinator; Doris Jones, OTC transitions coordinator-counselor; Diane Meringleo-Dirksen, OTC enrollment coordinator; Larry Ray, customized training instructor; Pat Vogel, certified welding inspector; Brent Wright, certified welding assistant; Cynthia Krizan, WSOS Ready to Work coach; Kevin Gehres, Christy Wortman, Karen McGilton, Ted Tumbleson, Michael Eversole, Kevin Hirschy, Amelia Miller, Patti Rodman, Michael Miller, Debbie Venderley, Marcia Osenga, Susan Munroe, and Annette Klinger, OTC instructors; Klinger, OTC secretary; Pam Knodel, resource center attendant; Linda Bales, substitute OTC secretary; and Ruth Ann Fogle-Brickner, assessment proctor.

In other action, the board:

• Approved the following Ohio Teacher Evaluation System certified evaluators: Mike Knott, student services supervisor; and Mary Ann Hall and Ted Verhoff, CTE supervisors.
• Approved Kaufman’s appointment of Frank Sukup as the board’s designee to hear a student expulsion appeal. Following an executive session to discuss the appeal, the board approved Sukup’s recommendation related to the appeal.
• Accepted the following donations: $100 from Beta Delta Chapter of Psi Iota Xi Sorority in Convoy, to be used for the Vantage Preschool; $125 from the Van Wert County Council on Aging for the electrical program.
• Read for the first time a number of new and revised board policies, as recommended by NEOLA Inc.
• Entered into a contract with Perry Pro Tech Corporation for new printers and copier repair service.
• Approved purchasing computers for the Interactive Media and Precision Machine programs.
• Approved the Avantage Salon & Spa price list for the upcoming school year.
• Approved the meeting list for the upcoming school year for the Local Professional Development Committee.
• Accepted the building directors’ annual wellness reports, based on the Wellness Committee review.
• Approved an overnight trip to San Diego, California, for the national FCCLA competition from July 2-8.

The regularly-scheduled July meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23, in the district conference room.