VWCS board discusses finances, physics

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education learned about a new middle school physics program coming to Van Wert Middle School, while Treasurer Mike Ruen had positive financial news for the district’s General Fund as well during its July meeting on Thursday.

The district treasurer noted that the General Fund took in $74,732 more than it spent in the 2015 fiscal year, which was the first time the fund operated in the black in the past five years. Ruen noted there was additional money from local property and income taxes and state foundation funding that helped the district offset costs.

The treasurer also noted that the district would benefit financially from three retire-rehire requests approved Thursday by the board. Ruen said rehiring administrative assistants Dave Froelich and Kent Smelser and elementary guidance counselor Mark Collins following their retirement would save the district between $80,000 and $100,000 in salaries and benefits.

He also noted that the district is looking at refunding the bond issue for the high school-middle school project, noting that lower interest rates would benefit taxpayers and lower payments for the district.

Superintendent Ken Amstutz talked about a middle school physics program that four county schools, including Van Wert, plan to implement. Amstutz said there would be some cost to the school district for the program, although the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners is also providing funding.

In addition to Van Wert, Lincolnview, Crestview and Delphos city school districts are interested in participating in the program, which would provide supplementary physics education to complement the schools’ core science curriculum.

Board member Mike Morrow suggested seeking financial underwriting for any local expense from The Van Wert County Foundation or local companies that would benefit from local graduates having a better physics education.

Amstutz said teacher training for the program would likely have to wait until September, because more information is needed.

“There are still a lot of unanswered questions at this point in time,” the superintendent told the board.

Amstutz also talked about a request to renovate the locker room under Eggerss Stadium, noting that the district plans to switch football players over to locker room facilities in the S.F. Goedde Building, which he said would be a win-win situation for the district and the players.

In personnel action, the board hired Rachel Taylor as a middle school language arts teacher, Danae Leaser as a district speech pathologist, Kristin Conrad, Kim Mull and Ashley Rickard as paraprofessionals for the Van Wert Early Childhood Center, Kathy Fischer as a paraprofessional for Van Wert Elementary School and Jackie Evans as an elementary cafeteria worker.

Lori Bittner was issued a three-year administrative contract was the new VWECC principal, while Brett Dorsten was also issued a three-year administrative contract as the district’s new school psychologist.

Katey Gamble was also approved as the seventh grade volleyball coach.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a number of fund transfers for the coming school year.
• Approved the following donations: $11,312.50 from the Gaylord E. Leslie Endowment Fund Bequest and Leslie Music Trust Fund, with half going to the instrumental music program and half to the vocal music program; $1,895 from the Gaylord Leslie Trust Bequest to the Athletic Department for the golf program; $9,797 from the Klein Trust Fund to benefit students from low-income families; and $400 from the Van Wert Peony Festival as payment for the band’s appearance in the Peony Festival.
• Approved student handbooks for the 2015-16 school year.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.