VWCS board hears financial information

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education’s November meeting lasted only about a half-hour, and most of that time was spent talking about the five-year forecast.

District Treasurer Mike Ruen noted the bad news first, which was the district is looking at a possible $4.3 million deficit by Fiscal Year 2018, if figures are unchanged.

“The bottom line is in the red,” Ruen said of the five-year forecast, adding that some cuts are planned prior to 2018, including not replacing some positions that come open, while replacing retiring employees with younger staff members to save money.

Ruen did say that grant income is expected to increase substantially over the more than $500,000 received in 2013, while also noting that income tax receipts were also up slightly. Revenues are up, overall this year, by 13 percent, although the treasurer added that could change between now and the end of the fiscal year in June. Ruen said a 5-percent increase seen last year largely evaporated before the fiscal year ended.

Expenditures for the district were also down in 2013, mostly due to non-replacement of some retiring employees.

As part of the agenda, the board approved two change orders for the completed elementary school and early childhood center projects. The first was a deduction of $8,083.64 for the elementary school project, while the second was an addition of $10,913.28 for the early childhood center.

The board also approved a then-and-now certificate totaling $6,000 for swimming pool rental with the YMCA of Van Wert County.

In other action, the board:

• Accepted the resignation of Mark Herge, a paraprofessional at Van Wert High School, effective November 8, and the resignation of Aimee Rosendahl as LifeLinks Community School math teacher, effective November 1.
• Approved a supplemental contract for Zane McElroy as Van Wert Middle School newspaper advisor.
• Authorized the following volunteer coaches for the 2013-2014 school year: Ryan Heil, VWHS boys’ head bowling coach; Tammy Metzger, VWHS girls’ head bowling coach; and Chuck Rollins, VWHS boys’ and girls’ bowling coach.
• Approved worker payouts for Ohio High School Athletic Association contests, effective the 2013-2014 school year.
• Approved Van Wert City School District salaries of other personnel for the current school year.
• Went into executive session to discuss appointment of public officials, with no action taken afterwards.

The next meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be Wednesday, December 18, starting at 5 p.m., in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.