Vantage Bd. moves to add Delphos schools

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

If all goes as planned, Delphos City and Delphos St. John’s schools will officially join the Vantage Joint Vocational School District.

During Thursday night’s monthly meeting, the Vantage Career Center Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to add the Delphos City School District, effective July 1, unless Delphos residents opposed to it gather enough signatures in the next 60 days to place the issue on the ballot in November.

Currently, Delphos City Schools and Vantage work with five-year contracts and per- student fees, plus a formula that helps make up for those schools not paying property taxes to Vantage.

“This is Vantage’s 44th year, and after 44 years they (Delphos) made a decision that they wanted to join, and our board was supportive of that,” Superintendent Rick Turner said. “Instead of revisiting this every five years we can long-term plan because they’ll be a member like all our other schools.”

“It doesn’t change a whole lot here day-to-day, as far as capacity of our programs and having to add staffing, because they’re already here,” Turner added.

Appoximately 45 students from Delphos Jefferson and 14 from Delphos St. John’s currently attend Vantage.

Final approval must be given by the Ohio Board of Education, but Turner said he and Delphos City Schools Superintendent Doug Westrick have been working closely with the state school board to ensure that happens.

Once it becomes official, Delphos will also have a representative on the Vantage Career Center Board of Education.

“Vantage has a long and successful relationship with students from Delphos,” Vantage Board President Pat Baumle said. “The Career Center creates a future for those students who will be the next generation of leaders in our communities, and becoming a Vantage member school gives Delphos a greater voice in determining what that future looks like.”

During his monthly report to the board, Turner noted the EdChoice voucher program continues to be at the forefront of the educational community, and he said House Bill 399 is a proposal that would merge barber and cosmetology laws, lowering the required education hours for cosmetology licenses. He also said another proposal, House Bill 218, would prohibit schools from beginning the school day before 8:30, but added that bill is drawing skepticism from legislators.

Turner and High School Director Mike Knott praised staff member Miriam Owens for her work on last Monday’s open house, which attracted more than 1,000 people.

Adult Education Director Kit Tyler reported to the board that Vantage was one of eight schools to receive funding from the Regional Growth Partnership with JobsOhio to help increase the number of workers with in-demand skills. The money will be used to purchase MTS/CAMWORKS software and training for instructors.

In other business, the board gave official approval to the 2020-2021 school calendar. Classes are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, August 18, for juniors and Wednesday, August 19, for seniors.

An agreement was approved between Vantage and Trinity Friends Church Family Life Center to provide shelter and family reunification areas in case of an emergency evacuation of Vantage Career Center.

Amy Weichart-Bayliff was given a two-year contract to serve as in-school discipline coordinator, while Darrell Miller was awarded a one-year contract as dean of students. Other personnel agreements were approved for Jacob Wortman (maintenance/custodial), Janey Knittle (cafeteria), and Isaac McKanna (part time custodial). Robert Gubbins was hired as a customized training instructor for the Adult Education Department.

Board members graciously accepted a donation of a FANUC M-740 robot, valued at $10,000, from the University of Northwestern Ohio, with special thanks to Dr. Jeffery Jarvis and Brock Atkins, for use in the Industrial Mechanics Program. The board also accepted a $2,500 donation from Van Wert Rotary Club for the Interact Club, an anonymous $100 donation for the Interact Club, and a $1,344 Library Services and Technology Act grant.

Overnight stays were approved for Skills USA State contestants in Dayton April 3-4 and April 6-8, and for FFA members to participate in State FFA Ag Mechanics and Outdoor Power competitions in Wooster April 2-3 and April 20-21, along with the State FFA Convention in Columbus April 30-May 1.

An out-of-state travel request was approved for Susan Farr to attend the 2020 Educating the Young Entrepreneur through Freedoms Foundation July 19-24 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

The next meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education will be held at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the district conference room, followed by the annual Vantage All Boards Dinner Program at 6 p.m.