The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

Vantage board welcomes new treasurer

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

New Vantage Treasurer Laura Peters attended the first board of education meeting in her official capacity on Thursday.

New Vantage Treasurer Laura Peters attends her first official board meeting. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)
New Vantage Treasurer Laura Peters attends her first official board meeting. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

Peters was hired in February by the board. A Delphos resident, Peters is a graduate of what is now Rhodes State Community College and was assistant treasurer for Delphos City Schools for the past 20 years.

She noted that she had little to report to the board, having been on the job for only four days prior to the board meeting, since her first official day on Monday.

Superintendent Staci Kaufman talked about an upcoming meeting with Vantage associate school district superintendents on March 15 during her report to the board. Kaufman noted that the bulk of the meeting will be a discussion on Vantage’s new responsibility of verifying for the Ohio Department of Education that all programs meet state standards.

“And these standards are multiple pages long,” Kaufman added.

Programs affected include Van Wert City Schools’ Project Lead the Way pre-engineering and Biomedical programs, consumer science classes and vocational agricultural courses offered by Vantage school districts.

The superintendent also talked about signage being prepared by Vantage architect Garmann-Miller that would include information on Vantage’s “green” building features, as well as some math questions and other information.

Kaufman and Adult Education Director Pete Prichard also talked about a trip they made to Washington, D.C., to promote career tech education with U.S. Representative Bob Latta and other federal legislators.

“I think it was very worthwhile,” the Vantage superintendent said of the meeting.

Later in the meeting, the Vantage board approved Prichard’s expenses for the Washington trip.

Vantage Director Ben Winans thanked those who supported the “Taste of Vantage” open house and fundraiser. Winans said the event raised more than $3,500 for various school activities.

Winans also updated the board on Vantage’s calamity day situation. The Vantage director said the career center would have to make up 15 hours of instructional time because of school delays and/or cancellations. Winans said Presidents Day has already been used as a makeup day, while April 6 – which was scheduled to be the last day of spring vacation — will also be a school day.

That still leaves two days to make up, he said, noting those days would be added to the end of the school year, making May 27 the new final day of the 2014-2015 school year.

Winans also talked about Vantage’s social media activities, stating that the school’s presence on Twitter and Facebook was garnering positive results.

In personnel action taken Thursday, the Vantage board accepted the resignation of Vantage custodian/maintenance employee James F. Martin, effective March 13.

Those employed include Mike Knott, who was given a three-year contract as Student Services supervisor; Phyllis Wortman, who was issued a two-year contract at evening secretary for the Adult Education program; and Deborah Eckhart, who received a continuing contract as a cafeteria cook.

Adult Education instructors hired on an as-needed, as-scheduled basis include Lisa Bradley, Jonell Spieles and Brian Christopher.

The board also authorized several overnight trips for Vantage students traveling to Columbus for state competitions and approved a memorandum of understanding with Northwest State Community College for Adult Education Trade and Industry programming the college would provide to Vantage.

Also accepted was a donation from Crown Equipment Corporation for 3,742 pounds of steel valued at $474.

The next meeting of the Vantage Board of Education will be at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in the district conference room. The meeting is early because of the Vantage All Boards Dinner being held at 6 that evening.

POSTED: 03/06/15 at 9:29 am. FILED UNDER: News