VW Board OKs seeking NPAC annex bids

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

The Van Wert City Board of Education moved swiftly through the monthly agenda on Wednesday, tackling a number of different items.

After tabling the matter in January, the board on Wednesday authorized the Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation to seek bids for Phase 1 of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center Annex Project, which is expected to cost approximately $800,000.

Superintendent Vicki Brunn updated the board on her recent trip to Columbus to speak to state lawmakers about the still controversial EdChoice voucher program, and she noted the school system has a good working relationship with St. Mary’s Catholic School.

“We’re not against private schools,” Brunn said. “Where we are concerned is the fact that the state is funding the voucher system based on performance and a flawed measure of performance in order to take our funding and give it to a private school.”

Brunn also said she wrote a letter to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and heard back from the state’s highest ranking official.

“He said he recently asked to meet with House Speaker Larry Householder and Senate President Larry Obhof to help resolve the impasse,” Brunn explained. “He’s in a tough spot and I get that, because I don’t know if there’s enough money allocated to cover the vouchers.”

Van Wert Elementary School Principal Justin Krogman shared a brief video featuring students talking about such things as hard work, friendship, cooperation, and self-control.

Athletic Council representative Anthony Adams said Van Wert High School Athletic Director Trent Temple is looking at ways to increase funding, and Vantage Career Center representative Debby Compton told fellow board members that Delphos Jefferson will become a member school of the career center.

In other business, the board accepted, with thanks, a lengthy list of donations from businesses and individuals and the board approved membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2020-2021 school year

Board members accepted several resignations including Ed Wells, bus maintenance supervisor; Van Wert Elementary School guidance counselor Mark Collins; varsity girls’ soccer coach Solomon Okang, and assistant boys/girls swimming coach Martha Martin.

Matt Miller was hired as girls varsity soccer coach and Katie Peterson was hired as girls varsity tennis coach. Scott Bigham and Bill Steinecker were approved as junior varsity softball coaches and Tom Baer and Darla Dunlap were hired as Van Wert Middle School Athletic Coordinators.

The board also agreed to approve Brian Bollenbacher as a volunteer junior varsity softball coach and Michelle Klein as a volunteer high school track coach.

Board member Tom Losh was appointed to the district safety committee

The next regular meeting of the Van Wert City Schools will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.