Vantage Board of Ed. approves finances

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

The Vantage Career Center Board of Education closed out fiscal year 2018 and approved temporary appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year during Thursday night’s meeting.

Treasurer Laura Peters told board members that the district’s general fund took in approximately $8.2 million and spent about $7.5 million during the previous fiscal year.

“The district is in a very sound position with our financial situation,” Peters said. “We keep a close eye on it and we’re also working a lot more with all of the different supervisors and directors to make sure that next year’s appropriations are in line with where we need to be.”

Board members heard a short presentation from Cafeteria Manager Penny Baucom, who said the school is in USDA compliance, while the board later approved cafeteria prices for the upcoming school year with no increases. Student breakfasts will remain $1.40 and adult breakfasts will cost $1.60. Student lunches will again range between $2.90 and $3.95, and adult lunches will cost between $3.40 and $4.45. Reduced student breakfasts and lunches will cost 30 and 40 cents respectively.

In other business, the board approved several financial transfers; authorized Peters and Superintendent Rick Turner to apply for state and federal grants; appointed Turner to serve on the Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission Board for the 2018-2019 school year; accepted a grant of $1,100 from the Patricia M. Lichtensteiger Memorial Fund of the Van Wert County Foundation for the Literacy Program at Vantage; accepted a grant of $59,150 from the Van Wert County Foundation to be used to purchase electronic items through the Rothacker-Lampe Bequest, and approved the electronic student handbook.

The board gave Anna Baker a one-year contract as secretary to the superintendent, and hired several Ohio Technical Center instructors. Robert Black will serve as Police Academy commander at a rate of $25.50 per hour; Jackie Brandt will work as an EMT Instructor at $22 an hour, and Janet Crummey will serve as a Medical Assistant instructor for $21 an hour. Annette Klinger will serve as a Medical Assistant instructor for $21 an hour, as an assessment proctor for $15 an hour, and as a substitute secretary for $13.71 an hour.

During his report to the board, Turner said work is being done on job description updates, and he thanked Interim Adult Education Director Kit Tyler for her work.

Tyler noted that four students graduated from Vantage’s CDL program, adding that seven students also graduated from the school’s Police Academy earlier this month.

High School Director Tony Unverferth said the maintenance crew is working to ensure everything is ready for the upcoming school year, and he said he’d like to upgrade lighting in Vantage’s Culinary Arts classroom and the Cup and Saucer Restaurant.

The next meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 2, in the district conference room.