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Last-minute school hirings approved

Meeting on the first day of classes, the Vandalia Board of Education approved several last-minute coaching and employment assignments, and heard preliminary enrollment reports from building principals.
Among the board action at the conclusion of the 30-minute meeting was the approval of employment of Jeni Boyd (Vandalia Junior High School physical education aide), Megan Byers (VJHS cheer coach), Miguel Rivera (VJHS part-time music), Ginny Phillips (Vandalia Jefferson Primary School three-hour cook), Sara Long (Vandalia Community High School three-hour substitute cook) and Jay Little (Okaw Area Vocational School power mechanics and VCHS agriculture).
Two volunteer coaches were approved by the board: Whitney Schaal (VCHS volleyball) and Laura Dossett (VCHS tennis).
Resignations approved by the board included: Michelle Miller (VJHS physical education aide), Ruth Ann Moyer (VJPS cook) and Sarah Fairbanks (VJHS part-time music).
The board also approved the following bids from South Central FS: 5W-30 oil at $511.50 for a 55-gallon drum; 15W-40 oil at $558.25 for a 55-gallon drum; a variety of tires at $23,993; and transmission fluid at $967.45 for a 55-gallon drum.
Superintendent Rich Well said that because of the hot weather, all schools will be dismissed one hour early each day through Aug. 29.
During the reports from building principals, the following enrollment numbers were given: VCHS – 498; VJHS – 495; Vandalia Elementary School – 296; and VJPS – 225. Those numbers are from the first day of attendance only, and Well said that firmer numbers will be available after the first three weeks of classes.
Nick Casey, director of the OKAW Area Vocational Center, said that the foundation has been poured for this year’s building trades house. It is located north of Vandalia on Zent Drive.
In his financial report, Well said that the district finished the last fiscal year on June 30 with a deficit of about $50,000. “It was a successful year financially,” he said. “We trimmed the deficit significantly from what we thought it would be.”
The district did receive the final state aid payment of the 2013/2014 fiscal year, which in previous years had been delayed until after the start of the new year on July 1. General State Aid payments, however, are still being paid at 89 percent of the original amount.
As of Aug. 1, the district was showing a total balance of $3.78 million, and a balance of $3.24 million in the four operating funds.
“We’re fortunate to have been able to accumulate a little bit of a balance,” Well said. “That helps us get through the summer months when we’re not receiving state aid payments. If we didn’t have anything in reserve, we wouldn’t be able to pay the bills.”
He said that the district should be receiving its first installment of property tax revenues from the county in early September.
The board will finalize the budget for the current year at its next meeting at 5 p.m. on Sept. 16.
 

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