Vantage board hears project update

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Vantage Board of Education members received an update on the school’s renovation-construction project during its regular August meeting Thursday night in the Cup and Saucer dining area.

Superintendent Staci Kaufman told board members the project was essentially on schedule, with labs for the Auto Body, Auto Tech and Ag Diesel classes projected to be ready by the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year.

Work on the south addition is a few days behind schedule, Kaufman noted, adding that some of the delays were related to plumbing work. She did say, though, that the various contractors were working well together and the project should get back on schedule when the walls of the addition begin going up. The superintendent also reported on Vantage’s five-year strategic plan, including administrative team goals for 2011-2012. Administrative goals include student achievement data assessment and increasing college credit opportunities earned.

Kaufman also introduced Alex Rompilla, who began work as Vantage’s Alternative Energy Academy lead instructor in July, to the board, and provided an update on the auction of two Buildings and Grounds houses on North Race Street and the carpentry program’s new house in the Washington Place subdivision. The superintendent said the North Race Street houses will be auctioned off at 5 p.m. Tuesday, August 9, while the Washington Place house will go up for auction at 7 that same evening.

Treasurer Lori Davis said there were minimum bids placed on each of the houses. Minimum bids are as follows: Washington Place house — $237,000; 408 N. Race St. — $45,000; 410 N. Race St. — $25,000.

Vantage Cafeteria Manager Penny Baucom also provided information to the board as part of a required annual report. She talked about possible future increases in cafeteria prices as a result of new federal food quality guidelines, but noted price increases won’t come in the 2011-2012 school year because Vantage cafeteria prices are already at the top end of what is allowed.

Personnel action by the board included the acceptance of the resignations of Scott Elwer and Bev Tuttle, Delphos Satellite ag and FCS instructors, respectively. The resignations were said to be a result of financial difficulties in the Delphos City Schools, which had an operating levy defeated earlier this week during a special election.

Meanwhile, a salary dispute may leave the Cosmetology program an instructor short with just weeks remaining until school starts.

Cosmetology instructor Amy Grothouse read a letter from colleague Barb Huber stating Huber’s intention to not accept a contract for the coming school year if the pay was what was being offered under a recent agreement with the Vantage Teachers Organization.

Huber is currently at Level 10 on the salary schedule, but, as a retire-rehire employee, would be cut to Level 5 on the schedule if not “grandfathered” in under a previous VTO agreement. Huber said in her letter that the change would mean a cut in pay of approximately $8,000 for the school year — something she did not feel she could live with.

The board, which was to approve a one-year contract for Huber later in the meeting, tabled that agenda item and discussed the matter during an executive session held at the end of the meeting.

During his report, Vennekotter had noted that the teaching staff was complete for the coming school year, and also listed new teachers and their subject matter for the 2011-2012 school year. New teachers include: Sherry Proctor and Jamie Kipfer, math; Daniel Joyce and Matt Miller, science; Angie Shellabarger, Ashley Cline and Shane Falke, special education; Mike Miller, ag/diesel mechanics; and Ted Verhoff, career-technical supervisor.

Vennekotter noted in the report that enrollment for the coming school year was down about six students from last year. Enrollment for 2011-2012 currently stands at 456, with the Junior Auto Body program having the most students, at 25, with the Junior Early Childhood Education second with 21 students.

In other action, the board:

• Appointed Kevin Landin as the board’s representative to the Ohio School Boards Association’s Capital Conference. Greg Reinhart would be the alternate.
• Hired the following Adult Education employees: Brian Ankney, fire protection; Kip Wright, Gary Dilworth, David Kiel, Robert Miller, Dennis Wagonrod, Robert Black, Robert Garcia, James Haggerty, Jeffrey Hammons, Virginia Hammons and Doug Weigle, Police Academy; Kevin Gehres and Ted Tumbleson, EMT instructors; Theresa Mengerink, Dee Dee Dirksen and Sandra Henkener, ABLE instructors; Brent Wright, welding and AWS testing instructor; Diane Jones, Transitions; Annette Klinger, secretary/monitor; Pat Vogel, AWS testing instructor.
• Approved a contract with LifeLinks Community School for enrollment of LifeLinks students at Vantage.
• Recognized school nurse designees for the 2011-2012 school year: Health Careers instructors Shirley Jarvis and Reesa Rohrs.
• Approved a Credit Flexibility Plan and operational procedures for Vantage.
• Authorized Career Technical Development days for the coming school year as follows: Mike Miller, Ag Diesel Mechanics, three days.
• Approved the Ohio SchoolComp program for the 2012 Worker’s Compensation Group Rating Program.
• Approved the Vantage and Western Buckeye Educational Service Center substitute lists.
• Approved new, revised or replacement policies as recommended by NEOLA.

The next regularly scheduled Vantage Board of Education meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 1, in the Cup and Saucer.