VWCS board looks at security, levy

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Security was the main topic of discussion during the Van Wert City Board of Education’s regular meeting held Wednesday in the First Federal Lecture Hall.

Board members discussed security during the meeting and also talked with Van Wert High School Principal Bill Clifton following the meeting about possible improvements to school security.

Primary concerns were with the main building entrances and other exterior doors, and what can be done to better secure those. Several possibilities were raised, including a security camera system at the main entrance, as well as installing glassless metal doors or bulletproof glass at the main entrance and other exterior doors.

All of those recommendations will be researched, although Clifton and Superintendent Ken Amstutz both felt installing new exterior doors would be too expensive, given the district’s tight budget. Clifton said his biggest concern was entrance to the school through the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Since the NPAC box office is open on weekdays, the entrance doors cannot be locked, yet locking interior doors leading to the school from the NPAC also presents a problem, especially for students and staff using the lecture hall or performance hall during school hours — which happens often.

Although Clifton said the new building is considerably more secure than the old high school building on West Crawford Street, he noted he has been working with the Van Wert Police Department and high school staff members to increase security at the new high school-middle school complex.

A program is also being conducted to educate students to the need to let parents or school staff members know about threatening text messages of social media posts.

The board and administration will continue to work with police and internally to improve school security in the district.

Speaking of school buildings, Amstutz said the new Van Wert Early Childhood Center (former Jefferson School) is now completed and classes will begin there soon.

“We’re very excited,” the superintendent said. “The building looks good.”

While noting that the building looks about the same from the outside, Amstutz added that the interior of the school has seen significant changes.

“On the inside it looks very, very much different,” he said. “It’s much brighter … brighter colors. It’s a very nice facility and it has turned out very well.”

The superintendent said occupancy of the building is expected by Thursday, January 17, while staff will work over the weekend of January 18-20 to prepare the rooms for the start of classes. An open house has been scheduled for Monday, January 21, from 4-7 p.m. to let the public view the school, while classes will begin in the building on Tuesday, January 22.

Also Wednesday, the board accepted the resignation of two longtime teachers who are retiring this year. Those retiring include VWHS math teacher Dave Kleman and Middle School social studies teacher Larry McCauley. Both have 35 years of teaching experience, all at Van Wert.

During the organizational meeting that preceded the regular meeting, Board President Ken Markward was re-elected to that position, while Linda Owens was chosen as board vice president.

The board also took the first of two steps needed to place a renewal of the district’s 1-percent income tax levy on the May ballot. The board is expected to hold a special meeting to approve a resolution to formally place the levy on the ballot. That action is needed by the ballot deadline of February 6.

In other action, the board:

• Accepted, with thanks, the following donations: $1,000 from the Gaylord and Eliza Saltzgaber Music Trust (Van Wert County Foundation) for the VWMS Band Exchange Day, $4,046 from the Klein Fund (Van Wert County Foundation for needy students, $8,000 from the Gaylord E. Leslie Music Trust (Van Wert County Foundation), $300 from the Van Wert County Foundation for the high school choir, $250 from United Way of Van Wert County Inc. for the Family and Children First Council, and $1,000 from Scott M. Niswonger for the “We the People” competitions.
• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Van Wert Federation of Teachers related to the district and building leadership teams.
• Approved a number of district policies recommended by NEOLA.
• Authorized bid packages and soliciting bids to remove asbestos from Washington and Franklin school buildings prior to demolition.

The next meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.