The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

Vantage aids in battle against COVID-19

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

Vantage Career Center is helping in the fight against the coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Vantage Career Center Board of Education members and administration meet virtually on Thursday evening. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent

During Thursday night’s monthly Board of Education meeting, which was done via a live video stream, Superintendent Rick Turner told board members that Vantage has been supporting various agencies and healthcare workers.

“We’ve donated PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) out of our labs to support area healthcare workers and we’ve made trips to Toledo with our semis from the truck driving academy to pick up food for distribution by the United Way,” Turner explained to the board.

Turner also told the board that Vantage began preparing March 16 for a building shutdown and the potential of learning online.

“In a period of three days, our staff had formulated a plan and trained our students for what was to come,” Turner said. “At the end of that, students and staff were told to take needed materials home in case of a shutdown, and dozens of Chromebooks were sent home with students needing a device for e-learning.”

“I cannot commend our staff, maintenance, tech team, and administrative team enough for the amazing job they’re doing,” Turner added.

High School Director Mike Knott also commended staff members for the work they’ve done since the shutdown.

“I can’t say enough about how well they’ve taken this in stride and the amount of work they were willing to do to make this happen,” Knott stated. “They’re making daily phone calls to students, lots of video conferencing and things like that to stay in touch with our students, so I want to thank our staff for being willing to go the extra mile.”

Knott pointed out that, unfortunately, all career tech student organization state competitions have been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he noted he’s received 367 applications for next year and said nine programs have reached their limit in terms of capacity.

During her report to the board, Adult Education Director Kit Tyler thanked staff members for their efforts, and explained the nursing program is continuing academically.

“We did receive notice from the Ohio Board of Nursing that they’re giving us quite a bit of dispensation and allowing us to do more with distance education,” Tyler said.

Tyler said most of the academic work for the police academy is done and range training is complete, but things like defensive driving and suspect searches will have to wait. She added some requirements may be relaxed a bit because of the need for police officers.

In personnel matters, the board hired Diane Font, Health Information Management; Lynda Ragan, Food and Consumer Science Satellite; Larry Ray, Precision Machining instructor; Larry Regedanz, Network Systems instructor; Robert Spath, Project Lead the Way instructor; Gary Cearns, welding; Audrey Stechschulte, math; Mickey McConahay, part-time guidance, Chris Miles, Construction Equipment Technology instructor; Susan Far, Job Training Coordination instructor; Debra Richardson, Construction Equipment Technology aide, and Wendy Baumle, Sports Exercise Therapy Program instructor.

Board members approved Tax Increment Finance (TIF) agreements with AGR Farms, Grote Farms, and Bare Creek Farms in Cloverdale; Cooper Hatchery and Cooper Farms in Oakwood; Dennis Vennekotter Farms and RMK Farming, Continental, and Country View Farms in Fort Jennings.

Among the other items approved by the board: a satellite agreement between Vantage and Van Wert City Schools; proposed tuition and student expenses for adult education, and a College Credit Plus memorandum of understanding with Rhodes State College.

The board also accepted the donation of a garbage track valued at $18,000 from Welor Inc. of Defiance, to be used in the Ag and Industrial Power program.

The next meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Thursday, May 7, with the annual Vantage All Boards Dinner at 6 p.m.

POSTED: 04/02/20 at 9:24 pm. FILED UNDER: News