Vantage hears Adult Ed. presentation

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Vantage Board of Education heard presentations from students and staff and also received an update on a solar power proposal during its September meeting Thursday evening.

Superintendent Staci Kaufman noted that engineers visited the school site to look at possible sites for installation of a solar power array. She noted that placing solar panels on the Vantage building roof doesn’t seem all that viable, but other areas of the campus would be adequate for installation of an array.

The also gave a brief update on the school building renovation project, noting that work continues on the project.

Early in the meeting, board members heard presentations from three Vantage students – Summer Williams, Rebaklynette Mason and Alexis Cummings – on their trip to Family, Community and Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) national competition. All three earned silver medals during the event.

Also on the agenda was Adult Education instructor Kristie Jones, who gave a presentation on the new Ren-Web computer program being used by Adult Education.

Jones showed some of the features of the Ren-Web program, which provides access to grades, homework and even online tests for Adult Education students.

Vantage Director Bob Vennekotter said that, although fog delayed the start of school from Wednesday until Thursday, he felt things went smoothly when school finally began.

“We are just very excited that we were able to make our starting date,” Vennekotter said, noting that while school was to start Wednesday, “we were flexible.”

The Vantage director said students and staff both appear to be upbeat as school gets underway. Kaufman said there was a problem with the school wireless broadband system that caused problems for students in the technology program, adding that she hoped things would be corrected soon.

Also Thursday, the board approved supplemental contracts for Mike Miller and Sarah Noggle for contract extensions not to exceed 20 days, as part of a fifth quarter ag grant, and accepted the resignation of cafeteria cook Teresa Jones.

The board also authorized the school’s participation in two Community Reinvestment Area applications, with Winkle Realty LLC, doing business as H&K Chevy-Buick in Continental, and for Joshua Vorst of Ottoville. An enterprise zone agreement was also approved with Cooper Farms in Oakwood. All three are PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) projects.

The following Adult Education instructors were also hired on an as-needed, as-scheduled basis: Kimberly Haas, Health Careers; Larry Longwell and Jeffrey Stittsworth, welding; Kevin Gehres, EMT; and Ted Tumbleson, Police Academy.

An agreement was also approved with Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology, effective September 6, and a new memorandum of understanding was authorized with Gilbane Construction for construction manager services.

The next meeting of the Vantage Board of Education will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 4, with the annual Advisory Committee Dinner to be held at 6:30 that evening.