New Tech presentation on VWCS agenda

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Board of Education heard a presentation on the high school’s New Tech curriculum and also accepted the resignations of two longtime employees during the board’s April meeting on Wednesday.

Van Wert High School teacher Chris Covey, who helps coordinate the New Tech program at VWHS, brought four freshman students with him to talk about the program and to allow them to answer questions from the board.

Prior to the student presentation, Superintendent Ken Amstutz made some comments about a recent article in The Cincinnati Enquirer about changes in Ohio’s common core curriculum standards, noting that those changes are reflected in VWHS’s New Tech program.

“What is spoken in the article is exactly what is taking place in freshman classrooms here,” Amstutz said, noting that those changes will continue as New Tech is implemented into all four high school grade levels here.

“Quite often, we mistake learning for good grades, when in reality, students are not learning,” the superintendent added. “The ability to regurgitate answers on a test is not learning in the 21st century.”

Amstutz said the changes to Ohio’s common core standards addresses one of the complaints of the education system: students who never learn to think on their own.

Covey agreed with the superintendent on the value of the New Tech program, but also noted the changeover to the new program hasn’t always been easy.

“I’ve enjoyed this change, but I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been a bit of a struggle at times,” Covey said of the New Tech implementation, adding that the changes have also created some “pushback with students” over the requirements of the program.

But Covey also agreed that New Tech and other project-based learning is where the state is heading with education.

“When I see where our Ohio common core is going, and our Ohio Continuous Improvement process, I feel more confident that our change here with project-based learning and New Tech is definitely the way that education is going,” Covey told board members.

The students, Gavin Ferckel, Chris Kraner, Shianne Baldwin and Madeline Rogers, provided information on how New Tech has affected their lives, with the students seeing most of the changes as positive ones.

They noted that the program focuses on the Internet, since students working in teams must find their own information for each project they do. While slowdowns in wireless Internet service and other technical and educational challenges were mentioned by students, the students also noted they had learned a great deal about how to work with other students and had improved a number of skills, including the ability to give presentations, and their critical thinking skills.

Also during Wednesday’s meeting, the board accepted the resignation of Ed Jacob, fifth grade special education teacher who is retiring after 30 years with Van Wert City Schools, effective the end of the 2012-2013 school year, as well as Connie Wood, VWHS paraprofessional, who is leaving after 15 years with the district.

A one-year leave of absence was also granted for VWHS math teacher Erica Lofthouse.

Amstutz also talked about the 1-percent income tax levy campaign, noting that, while voter turnout appears low at this point, the key to passing the levy is to get those voting “yes” to the polls.

“The important thing is that the positive people get out and vote for the levy,” the superintendent told board members. “The success will hinge upon our positive voters not being complacent and getting out and voting.”

In other action, the board:

Approved a zero-percent increase on base salary and fringe benefits for teachers under the current contract with the Van Wert Federation of Teachers. Teacher Bonnie Thatcher, representing the VWFT, said teachers supported the decision, in light of the current economic conditions in the district.

Approved a fund for an On the Job Training program set up by Roland Alvarez to provide job training for local students.

Authorized displaying state championship banners for track athletes in the VWHS gymnasium.

Approved the following supplemental contracts: Nancy Brown (one class), Myrna Hamrick (two classes), Kathy Taylor (two classes) and Keith Utendorf (one class) as Senior Project teachers; and Kent Smelser as an assistant varsity football coach.

Approved a number of construction change orders for Van Wert Elementary School and the Van Wert Early Childhood Center (formerly Jefferson School).

Adopted a resolution allowing for the demolition of Franklin and Washington elementary school buildings.

Accepted, with thanks, the following donations: Van Wert Booster Club, $7,500 for track fencing; Eaton Corporation, $500 for the VWHS Robotics Club; and Van Wert Service Club ($125), Van Wert Federal Savings Bank ($125), Stoller Wealth Management ($125), Edd Buhl ($125), Van Wert County Foundation-City Educators Fund ($900) and The Van Wert County Foundation ($125), all for the Van Wert City Endowment Fund for Educators, to be used for the teacher appreciation banquet.

Approved a resolution approving post-issuance compliance policies and procedures for tax-exempt obligations.

The next scheduled meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.