VWCS board hears Robotics Club update

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education received an update from the Van Wert High School Robotics Team during its December meeting on Wednesday.

Robotics Team coaches Bob Spath and Zane McElroy brought team members, two robots, and a portion of this year’s competition course to show to board members. This year’s competition will involve “climbing a mountain”, as well as a number of other tasks robots must perform to earn points. The team will also host its own competition next year, as well as gear up for a run at the state and national competitions.

The team also provided assistance to start-up robotics programs in Wapakoneta and Grover Hill, among others.

Assistant to the Superintendent Bill Clifton provided a report on the district safety plan, as well as testing, district and building leadership teams, meetings with curriculum coordinators from other school districts and the local district’s resident educator teacher mentoring program.’

Van Wert High School Principal Bob Priest and guidance counselor Kerry Koontz were also on hand to discuss a business outreach program the district is implementing with a number of local companies, with a presentation being held this morning in the First Federal Lecture Hall.

“I feel we’re on the right track,” Priest said of programs at the high school and middle school that are providing students with training that prepares them for a number of jobs that don’t require post-secondary (college or technical schools) education.

Koontz said he feels guidance counselors often do students a disservice by promoting two- and four-year degrees when there a number of high-paying jobs that don’t require that level of education.

Board member Mike Morrow said he felt the district “was right on target” in its development of programs meant to provide more business-oriented training — as well as traditional education — while Priest said the district was also working harder to interact with the business community to find out what skills businesses want in their employees.

With the high cost of a college or technical school education, teaching students skills that allow them to get good-paying jobs right out of high school is a benefit for many students.

Priest also noted that businesses are trying to do a better job of marketing themselves to schools.

Also Wednesday, the board:

• Accepted the resignation of two retiring staff members. VWHS cafeteria worker Mona Allenbaugh is retiring after 20 years with the district, while Early Childhood Center cafeteria worker Phyllis Rice is retiring after 28 years with Van Wert City Schools.
• Accepted the resignation of Ashley Breese as fourth grade multimedia advisor, effective the 2015-16 contract.
• Approved Nate Hoverman as a volunteer indoor track coach and Bob Spath as a VWHS cross country coach (half-time).
• Accepted the following donations: $11,312.50 from the Van Wert County Foundation’s Gaylord E. Leslie Endowment for the Music Trust Fund; $300 from Van Wert Rotary Foundation for the high school choir; $1,000 from Van Wert Federal Savings Bank for the VWHS Robotics Club; $75 from Straightline Body & Paint Inc., $200 from Greif Brothers, $200 from Van Wert County Hospital, $150 from Cowan Funeral Home, $100 from Van Wert Vision Ltd., $200 from Amber Gibson, $25 from Bebout & Houg Roofing and Siding Inc., and $100 from Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, all for the VWMS Renaissance program; $1,140 from the Van Wert Elementary PTO to the VWES Wellness Committee; $50 from Ralph G. Merkel, DDS, for the Family Career & Comnunity Leaders of America (FCCLA); $380 from BSN Sports, $75 from Devin and Samantha Webster, $500 from Michael B. Smith, and $80 from Julie and Joel Hammond for the Wrestling Athletic Account; and $50 from Drew and Cassie Waltmire, and $100 from Chet and Lisa Straley for the Cross Country Athletic Account.
• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the classified employees regarding the retirement payment and date of retirement, effective December 16.
• Approved a real estate purchase agreement to sell Lot 138 on South Shannon Street (at the rear of Eggerss Stadium).

The next meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.