Vantage Board honors heroic students

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

Two new members were sworn in during Thursday night’s organizational meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education.

Robin Etter of Continental is replacing Ron Bradford and Molly Hoersten of Fort Jennings is stepping in for Cliff Wieging. Two other members, Debby Compton of Van Wert and Michelle Gorman of Lincolnview, were sworn in for new three-year terms. A third board member, Kim Wannemacher of Ottoville, will serve a three-year term as well.

Pat Baumle of Wayne Trace was re-elected as board president, while Lonnie Nedderman of Crestview was tabbed to continue as vice president.

Board members also established the meeting calendar for 2020, with most meetings scheduled for 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. The April meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m. and the July meeting will be held early, on June 25. Board members will be paid $125 per meeting.

During the regular portion of the meeting, the board honored two students — Ethan Leatherman and Tyler Brown — for assisting a trucker whose rig overturned on U.S. 30 in November.

“Ethan and Tyler were on their way home after the school day when they witnessed the accident and they stopped immediately and ran to the aid of the driver,” Superintendent Rick Turner said. “The students jumped on top of the overturned vehicle and pulled the driver out of the cab, then offered assistance until emergency units arrived.”

During his report, Turner noted that he’s working with the Ohio Manufacturing Association to ensure the state is prepared to train the next generation of manufacturing workers in an evolving technical environment.

High School Director Mike Knott told the board that he’s excited to implement the Transition to Work and Sports Exercise Therapy programs next school year, and he said more seniors are signing up for the early placement portion of the Career Advancement Program (CAP).

“We’re starting to see students that are going out and working half days and getting paid in their area of expertise, so that is a very robust work-based learning opportunity for those students,” Knott said.

Knott also noted that Vantage’s annual sophomore visitation day is scheduled for Friday, January 31, and he praised senior Gage Smith, a Network Systems student from Paulding.

“During the first semester he passed his test-out Lennox pro certification, which normally takes a senior the entire school year to do,” Knott said. “Not only did he complete it, but he scored in the top 10 percent of all test takers in the United States, and that includes college students and industry professionals.”

Adult Education Director Kit Tyler informed the board that the Van Wert County Foundation will vote this month on funding for a Vantage RN program that could start in January 2022.

The board approved a service agreement with Westwood Behavioral Health Center, and three people were hired on an as needed basis, all in the adult education department — Marty Katterheinrich, diversified industrial training coordinator; Joy Miller, evening secretary, and Kevin Van Oss, customized training instructor.

In other business, the board approved several Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) agreements, and board members graciously accepted a donation of 40 new Briggs and Stratton 2-cycle engines valued at $225 each. The engines were donated to the Ag and Industrial Power Technology program by the Equipment and Engine Training Council.

The next meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 6, in the district conference room.