VWCS board opposes school vouchers

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education made it 3-for-3 as it also passed a resolution during its March meeting on Wednesday opposing state legislation that would expand Ohio’s school voucher program.

In a largely uneventful meeting, the four board members present (Ben Cowan was unable to attend) unanimously adopted a resolution in opposition to expanded school vouchers.

Superintendent Ken Amstutz noted that Ohio already has four voucher programs, with two more proposed under House Bill 59. “No other state in the country has as many voucher programs as we have, with millions upon millions of dollars going out,” Amstutz said, noting that the resolution would be sent to members of the Ohio General Assembly.

Lincolnview and Crestview school boards also adopted resolutions in opposition to expanding the voucher program during their March meetings earlier this week.

Van Wert Middle School math teacher Bonnie Thatcher also spoke out against the expanded vouchers, noting her concerns with how the legislature is handling school vouchers.

“Vouchers have been expanded so that parents can use them even if their school is (rated) ‘excellent’ or ‘excellent with distinction’ (on the state school report card),” Thatcher noted. “I have a real problem with that and commend you for passing this resolution.”

The superintendent also talked about action taken to improve security in district schools, noting that approximately $12,000 will be spent to secure doors and add cameras to some of the older district buildings. Amstutz said he hoped to begin work through SecureComm, a company that specializes in security systems, to get the work done as soon as possible. “I’m hoping we can get things moving quickly…,” the superintendent said, adding that he would like work to begin before summer, if possible.

Amstutz also said the district has received an additional waiver day from the Ohio Department of Education, which will be used for active shooter training to make teachers and staff members more aware of what to do in case of a shooting incident at one of the city school buildings.

Also Wednesday, VWCS Treasurer Mike Ruen noted that a fund would need to be created to receive reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for some costs of opening a shelter in the middle school gymnasium for victims of the derecho storm that occurred in June 2012.

Amstutz called having a shelter at the school an unfunded mandate, noting: “None of us mind doing those type of things, but, once again, it’s just expected and it’s at a cost…”

The treasurer added that some of those additional costs were not reimbursed.

Ruen also said that, while FEMA reimbursement funds had been received, he has not yet received state money earmarked for storm costs. The district treasurer also stated his opinion on the storm cost reimbursement process: “I hope not to have to do it again.”

Also during the meeting, Amstutz talked about efforts being formulated to promote passage of the district’s 1-percent income tax levy on the ballot in May. Because early voting has expanded the time when Ohioans can vote, the committee promoting the levy has also planned activities that would begin in early April. Early voting will begin in Ohio on April 2.

The superintendent also noted that a “Renew the Pride” website has been developed to help provide information to voters about the levy. The board approved levy language making the tax issue a “continuing” levy, rather than one that needs to be placed on the ballot every five years.

Amstutz noted that the cost of promoting the levy would be approximately $15,000 and urged any district residents interested in donating to the campaign to contact his office at 419.238.0648. No district funds are being used to promote the tax issue.

In other action, the board:

• Approved Van Wert Elementary School and Early Childhood Center project change orders, as presented.
• Approved a number of coaching contracts, as follows: Jim Werts, high school assistant baseball coach; Rick Roop and Niki Staten, half-time junior varsity softball coaches; Brendon Moody, boys’ and girls’ cross country head coach; Kim Laudick, assistant cross country coach; Keith Recker, head football coach; Jason Cross, Craig Syphrit, Keith Utendorf, and Mark Herge, assistant football coaches; Ben Laudick, Adam Tussing and Zane McElroy, each two-thirds time football assistant coaches; Jeff Hood, head golf coach; George Scott, head boys’ soccer coach; Matt Hernandez, boys’ assistant soccer coach; Chuck Rollins, girls’ tennis head coach; Vicki Smith, head volleyball coach; Ashley Holden, assistant volleyball coach;
• Diana Kiehl, freshman volleyball coach; Ashley McElroy, football cheerleading coach; Betty Holliday, VWMS boys’ cross country coach; Kylee Moody, VWMS girls’ cross country coach; Charlie Witten, Mark Collins, Jay Royer and Seth Baer, VWMS football coaches; Judy Krites, seventh grade volleyball coach; Katie Harting, eighth grade volleyball coach (90 percent); Tracy Keber, eighth grade volleyball coach (10 percent); Shad Foster, athletic trainer; Trent Temple, VWMS athletic director (34 percent); Kim Clifton, VWMS fall site manager (33 percent); and Darla Dunlap, VWMS winter site manager (33 percent.
• Approved Kathy Mansfield as a volunteer assistant tennis coach and Alyssa Putman as volunteer assistant softball coach.
• Approved mentoring supplemental contracts as follows: Sara Alvarez/Ashley McElroy (mentee), Sara Alvarez/Traci McCoy (mentee), Karla Butler/Travis Guggenbiller (mentee), Kyle Hammons/Ashley Wharton (mentee), Shelly Place/Candice Schwieterman (mentee), Jen Trittschuh/Nancy Brown (mentee), and Kelly Van Horn/Krista Baer (mentee).
• Authorized the following professional development days (waiver days) for the 2013-2014 school year: October 14, 2013; November 24, 2013; February 14, 2014; and April 17, 2014.
• Authorized the VWHS band to travel to New York City from March 17-21.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel items, with no action taken following the session.

The next meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.