Western Buckeye ESC talks personnel

Van Wert independent

The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Governing Board discussed the lack of highly qualified substitute teachers and also approved several personnel actions during its December meeting on Wednesday.

Superintendent Brian Gerber discussed with the board the need for highly qualified substitute teachers, noting that the Western Buckeye ESC is willing to work substitute teacher candidates on a one-to-one basis in order to submit all required paperwork to the Ohio Department of Education.

“We have wonderful administrative assistants in our office who are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to assistant substitute teacher candidates in obtaining a substitute teacher license,” Gerber told the board. “We will walk candidates through the process until all required paperwork is appropriately submitted.”

Gerber said the ESC also created a substitute teacher/aide handbook that will assist partner schools and substitutes in Paulding and Van Wert counties.

The superintendent also noted that Ohio Governor John Kasich’s biennial state budget should be out by late January or early February.

In personnel action, the board acknowledged Kimberly Jones as acting treasurer, effective November 25, and will adjust her salary. Kathy Habern was also hired as a part-time special needs aide at Thomas Edison Center, effective December 15, while the board also accepted the resignations of Amy Klinker from her special needs aide’s position at Thomas Edison, effective December 11, and Pamela Williamson from her intervention specialist’s position at Antwerp Local Schools, effective November 25.

In other action, the board:

• Renewed its membership with the Ohio School Boards Association’s Legal Assistance Fund at a cost of $250 and also approved an annual OSBA membership at a cost of $2,290.
• Approved a new physical therapist’s job description as presented.
• Rescinded several NEOLA policies that were not applicable to an educational service center.
• Approved the new Substitute Teacher/Aide Handbook.

The governing board will hold its organizational meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 21, at the Paulding ESC office, with the regular meeting to follow.