VWCS eyes special meeting to award bids

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education received updates on a number of pending projects, with Superintendent Ken Amstutz reminding board members that a special board meeting may be needed to award bids and contracts for the new elementary school construction project.

The superintendent noted that bids would be opened at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at the S.F. Goedde Building, adding that a number of the same contractors who worked on the high school-middle school project are also interested in bidding on the elementary school.

Amstutz did not, though, that a special meeting would likely be needed to award bids and contracts so that construction can begin in a reasonable time this spring. “We’d like as early as possible to get that done,” the superintendent said, and added that a tentative date of April 13 – a week prior to the regular April board meeting, has been set for that meeting.

Amstutz also reported that the Project Lead the Way biomedical program is moving forward, with Van Wert science teachers and administrators visiting Wayne High School near Dayton to see a similar program in that school. The superintendent said high school science teacher Chuck Rollins will be receiving training this summer to teach the first year of the biomedical program, with other teachers trained to teach the following three years.

Amstutz spoke highly of all of the high school science teachers and their willingness to get involved in the program.

“I’m really excited about our high school science staff,” the superintendent said. “They’ve stepped to the plate; it’s just a tremendous opportunity for us.

“…the push in funding … is the STEM piece, which is Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and I think we as a school district need to get on board with that, and we’re beginning to do that as well.”

Amstutz said the Project Lead the Way programs will also aid the district in the Gateway to Technology program, which involves six STEM “strands”. The superintendent said the local district currently teaches two of the strands, but is planning to teach all six in the near future.

Amstutz also updated the board on a group’s offer to construct tennis courts at the high school-middle school complex. The group has offered to construct the court, which would cost approximately $250,000, as well as approximately $10,000 per court for lighting.

Maintaining the courts would be an expense to the district down the road, though, the superintendent said, noting that while there would be little maintenance expense in the first seven years, it would then cost about $20,000 every five years thereafter to maintain the courts.

Amstutz said he still thought the tennis court project was a good idea, but did want to make sure the board understood there would be future costs to maintain them.

The superintendent also updated the board on the Race to the Top program, noting that there is $17.5 million available through the state from the federal program, including five  $1 million grant for a “new tech high school,” which Amstutz said would help tie all the district’s STEM initiatives together, if awarded locally. “It certainly is a remote possibility that we will receive a million dollars to move forward — $250,000 basically for four years – however, I think that what we want to do is get on board with what we’re doing and that could put us in line for some other grants,” he noted, adding that working on the Race to the Top grant could also open the district up for other grants for STEM-type projects – which is a priority for the district.

Amstutz said grants are available for training, technology and equipment for STEM projects, and getting involved in the Race to the Top would be beneficial to leveraging some of those dollars.

Also Wednesday, the board heard an “Educational Impact” program presented by Michelle Turnwald, fourth and fifth grade gifted teacher, on fourth-graders’ study of the law that included a mock trial at Van Wert Municipal Court.

Treasurer Mike Ruen also spoke briefly on Governor John Kasich’s just-released state budget, but said there weren’t enough details available for him to make an assessment on what impact the budget would have on the city school district.

In other action, the board:

Approved three-year administrative contracts as presented to VWMS/Goedde Building Principal Mark Bagley VWHS Principal Bill Clifton, Jefferson Elementary Principal Kevin Gehres, VWCS Psychologist Doug Grooms and Washington Elementary Principal Bill Wisher.

Heard a report from Ken Mengerink, the board’s representative on the Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation (VWAPAF), on activities at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. Mengerink said the Community Concert lineup would be coming out in April, along with the other artists that will be performing during the 2011-2012 season.

Accepted the resignation of Destri Bockey-Long as varsity girls’ basketball coach.

Approved supplemental contracts for R.J. Coleman and Bob Priest as high school girls’ track assistants and for Vicki Smith as high school head volleyball coach.

Heard an update on the district’s energy conservation project, with Amstutz noting that a proposal has been submitted to the Ohio School Facilities Commission for approval. The superintendent said ceiling tile work would not be part of the project, but would be done in-house, because it did not provide a 15-year payoff as required by House Bill 264. He said plans are to do the work this summer, if the OSFC approves the plan.

Approved the school calendar for the 2011-2012 school year.

Authorized the WBL vs. MAC/NWC All-Star Football Game for Friday, June 10, starting at 7 p.m. in Eggerss Stadium. Rain date will be the following Saturday, June 11.

Approved a Satellite Program Standards and Maintenance agreement between VWCS and Vantage Career Center.

Went into executive session to discuss personnel items and negotiations, with no action taken afterwards.

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