PIQUA — The Upper Valley Career Center Board of Education approved five local grants, totalling $4,650, during its regular monthly meeting, Monday, Nov. 26.
Three of the grants were from the Piqua Community Foundation, including one in the amount of $500 to go toward the Adult Aspire program, earmarked for Rides to Work and Miami County Transit; one for $500 for the purchase of safety glasses for the Agriculture and T&I programs; and one for $250 to cover the costs of an author’s visit.
Two grants were provided by the Miami County Foundation, including one in the amount of $1,000 for the Adult Aspire program GED testing, and one for $2,400 for the purchase of trauma kits.
Superintendent Dr. Nancy Luce discussed the necessary review and revisions of proposed policies and regulations, which included slight changes to about 35 policies.
“Most of these have no change in procedure; it’s just an update, if you will,” Luce said.
Luce also touched on board policy regarding crowdfunding, including the use of sites like GoFundMe on behalf, but without official approval, of the school.
“The state auditor sent all district treasurers and superintendents a letter indicating that we needed to have a policy on this,” Luce said. “Basically, the choices were to provide very strict guidelines or prohibit.
“(Treasurer Anthony Fraley) and I were both in total agreement that we wanted to prohibit. We really see no reason for that; it’s really asking for more issues in terms of accountability, tracking, et cetera.”
Pat Gibson, operations director, gave an update on the purchase of two new vans. A purchase order for these vans was secured last month, he said, budgeted from the general fund.
Gibson said the Beau Townsend dealership that the school has ordered the vans from has received an unrelated shipment of vans, which come equipped with more options at a price that’s $620.50 higher than those ordered.
“I would recommend we secure at least one, if not two, of these four vans with the additional options,” he said.
The school received a check from Nationwide Insurance in the amount of $1,200, Gibson said, which went toward the rental of a temporary van after one was totaled.
“To date, we’ve got about $266 that we’ve used of that $1,200,” he said. “So, we would have monies in that should these vans still be available.”
The board accepted seven donations, including six non-operational engines, donated by Crown Equipment Corporation, to be used as training aids by the Ag. and Power Technologies program; Nucor building, donated by Nucor Building Systems, to be used by the Carpentry program; efforts in securing a Nucor building donation, as well as time to move, unload, and assist in construction of the building, donated by Ferguson Construction; 6,000 pounds of metal, donated by Scott Steel, to be used by the Welding Program; miscellaneous office supplies/paper, donated by Midmark; a 32-inch Vizio flat screen TV, donated by an anonymous donor, to be used as a recruitment giveaway; and $60, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Dale Bensman, to the Project Search fundraiser.
In other business, the board:
• Approved three students to travel with Ohio SkillsUSA to Washington, D.C., from Jan. 20 to 25, 2019, to attend the SkillsUSA ROTI Training.
• Approved certified substitutes Randy Devor and Debra Holthaus, effective Nov. 27, 2018, on an as-needed basis for the 2018-2019 school year.
• Approved David Daughenbaugh, special projects/maintenance, in the amount of $16.35 per hour, effective from Nov. 26, 2018 through June 30, 2019; and Jeannette Schmelzer, supervisor’s secretary/receptionist, at a prorated amount of $30,079 per year, effective from Jan. 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019.
• Approved Garth Adams as adult WD industrial instructor and adult customized training instructor; Sonja Crabtree as adult WD ServSafe instructor and adult customized training instructor; Randy Devor and Janice Metz, as adult WD industrial instructors and adult customized training instructors; and Mariana Patton as adult customized industrial training instructor.
• Approved the retirement of Shellie Gyetvai, career tech instructor, medical careers academy, effective May 31, 2019.
• Approved the resignation of Jeannette Schmelzer as the adult student services secretary, effective Dec. 31, 2018.
• Approved the superintendent’s recommendation to suspend electronics instructor Jim Weaver, of Covington, for two days without pay due to insubordination following Weaver’s failure to attend training during a scheduled professional development day as part of his performance improvement plan.
