New Van Wert BOE member takes the oath of office

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The newest member of the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education was sworn in on Wednesday.

Lifelong Van Wert resident Scott White is taking the reins from Thaison Leaser, who resigned June 30 due to a move just outside the school district. White was one of three applicants for the vacant seat. All three were interviewed last week. He joins Board President Anthony Adams, Vice-President Julie Burenga and board members Dr. Debby Compton and Greg Blackmore.

“As a Van Wert High School graduate I saw this as an opportunity to give back to the community, the students, teachers and the administration,” White said after the meeting. “I think there’s going to be a lot of learning going on initially – they’ve done a nice job of laying out a transition program for me that I look forward to learning.”

Board President Anthony Adams said all three applicants interviewed well for the open seat.

“We would have been happy with any of them but after some discussion, we chose to ask Mr. White to join the board,” Adams stated. “He’ll do a great job. We love the experience he brings with him and his professionalism.”

To keep the seat, White, who serves as the administrator at VanCrest Health Care Center in Van Wert, will need to run in a special election in November of 2027 for the remaining two years of the term that ends on December 31, 2029.

A number of personnel items were on Wednesday’s agenda, including the resignations of kindergarten teacher Emily Vondran, elementary intervention specialist Molly Baltzell, early childhood center paraprofessional Taylor Semer, and the retirement-resignation of social worker Diana Morrow.

The board approved the hiring of Robin Everett as a kindergarten teacher, Aliviah Bates as an early childhood center paraprofessional, Mark Breece as head elementary school custodian, and Charles Berry as custodial/maintanence worker.

In other business, the board approved cafeteria prices for all schools for the 2026-2027 school year and Assistant Superintendent Bob Priest noted due to rising costs, there will be a slight increase this year. The board also gave the green light to a high school band camp to be held July 27-31 at Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana.

During his report, Superintendent Mark Bagley said August 5 is when 30-40 new employees will be welcomed to the district.

“They’ll be here from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and we’ll do an introduction then we get on the bus with Mr. Priest then we take a tour through Van Wert and all our buildings,” he explained.

He also said only two staffing vacancies remain and he noted the district will be fully staffed when school begins next month.

The fourth and final phase of the Eggerss Stadium renovation project is nearing completion. According to Treasurer Troy Bowersock, Phase IV will cost about $1.1 million and the overall price tag for the massive project will be approximately $8.5 million.

Before adjourning, board members graciously acknowledged a lengthy list of various donations.

The next meeting of the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, in the First Federal Lecture Hall at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.