VWCS Bd. given Eggerss Stadium update

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

Eggerss Stadium and personnel items were at the forefront of Wednesday’s meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education.

Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Bill Clifton told board members that new bleachers are to be installed on the visitors’ side of Eggerss Stadium, but the project has been slowed temporarily by red tape in the permit process. He added that he expects the bleachers to be installed in time for the upcoming football season.

Replacing the visitors’ side bleachers is considered Phase I of improvements, while Phase II will cover the home side of the stadium.

“It will include both undercoating on the top and underside of the stadium, repairing the back wall at the top of the stadium, widening the aisles and installing hand rails, addressing the handicap accessibility problem, installing a completely new press box, and addressing both ticket booths,” Clifton noted.

He also said cost estimates for Phase II will be shared at a later date and he explained that permanent improvement funds will be used to cover Phase I, while donations will be needed for Phase II — and to possibly reimburse the district for the cost of the first phase of the project.

Also Wednesday, the board accepted the resignations of seventh grade science/social studies teachers Kelsey Dunn and Drew Golden, and sixth grade science/social studies teacher Craig Syphrit. Syphrit and Kent Smelser also resigned as assistant football coaches.

The board hired Kylee Bader and Katie Peterson as seventh grade science/social studies teachers, Josh Early as a fourth grade intervention specialist, Brianna Pelfrey as a third grade teacher, and reclassified Kelly Fritz as a sixth grade science/social studies teacher. Board members also approved three-year administrative contracts for Van Wert Early Childhood Center Principal Lori Bittner and VWHS Principal Bob Priest.

Also during the meeting, high school guidance counselors Frankie Bowen and Stephanie Hanneman, along with district special education coordinator Ruth Ann Dowler, updated board members on several topics, including testing, graduation, and inclusion.

Among other items handled by the board: student handbooks for 2018-2019, routine financial items, a revised tax abatement with GKN, and a renewal purchase of the “My Math” curriculum for Van Wert Elementary School.

Wednesday’s meeting was also the first for new Superintendent Vicki Brunn, who thanked the board for entrusting her with leadership of the district. She noted she’s pleased with what she’s seen so far.

“I’m just impressed with the passion of our educators, and I’m so looking forward to rolling out the next school year,” Brunn said.

Board members acknowledged several charitable groups, entities, and individuals for generous donations, including the Gaylord Leslie Endowment Fund (music trust fund, $13,950), the Gaylord Leslie Trust Fund ($1,150 to the golf program), Gaylord and Carmen Leslie ($2,850 to the Leslie Golf Scholarship Fund), the Donald E. Bachman Memorial Fund ($150 to the athletic department), the Justin R. Lybold Memorial Fund ($300 to the DARE Red Ribbon Program), the Lacy L. Trammel Memorial Fund ($350 to the DARE Red Ribbon Program), and the Elementary Summer Science Camp, $1,050.

The next meeting of the Van Wert City Board of Education will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, in the S.F. Goedde Building conference room.