Collaborative effort

What started out as a plan of Vandalia’s new superintendent of schools to inform local organizations about the district’s idea of developing more ways to help local youth and their families has grown into a collaborative effort to make that happen.
Dr. Jennifer Garrison told school board members on Tuesday that the first community collaboration meeting was held earlier this month, during which three short-term goals were set:
• Aligning food pantries for the community.
• Integrating mental health professionals into the schools, working with the Community Resource Center.
• Enhancing the after-school program at the junior high, working with the Family YMCA of Fayette County.
“When I came to Vandalia, I said that I was going to do a 30-, 60-, 90-day learning tour to learn more about the community and talk about everyone working together.
“I was invited to speak at the chamber meeting and I spoke with the Soroptimists, really just getting our message out, starting with our mentoring at the high school,” Garrison said.
“But, then, I met with Ben (Frazier) at the YMCA and Greg (Starnes) at the hospital, and we were all saying the same thing.
“So, what’s come together is a collaboration,” Garrison said.
“We plan to start with short-term goals and then create more of a long-term plan. Then, in August or September, start to build with more connections,” she said.
Garrison said that she is more than pleased with the reception that she has gotten from local organizations and individuals.
“It took off faster than expected, which is a positive,” Garrison said. “It’s wonderful.
“It just shows the desire of everyone to work together, and I’m excited about that,” she said.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Garrison told the board that the good news is that the district is receiving “new tier” money approved for schools by the state legislature.
The bad news, she said, is that the state is still behind on categorical payments for such things as transportation and special education.
Garrison said that the district is scheduled to receive $534,356.83 in new money, with that total including a positive adjustment of $12,546.28 by the state board of education.
Thus far, the district has received $358,328 of the new funds, with $176,308.83 still coming later.
As for the categorical payments, Garrison said that the state still owes the district $192,976.03.
The district should be ahead of projected figures in the budget, she said. “The new tier money will help, definitely,” Garrison said.
Also at the meeting:
• The board approved the resignations of Michele Hoyle, junior high library aide; and Brooke Hoene, high school physical science and biology teacher.
• The board approved the transfer of Smokey Newsom from high school day custodian to maintenance.
• The board approved the hirings of: Lyndsey Goodin, fourth- and fifth-grade special education teacher; Joshua Bogart, maintenance director; Whitney Smith as transportation director (beginning in 2019-20); and Karen Black, junior high clerk, replacing Donna Dothager, who is transferring to the high school.
• The board approved the following coaches: Bill Blythe, tennis; Angel Kopp and Misty Thompson, junior high cheerleading; Jason Hagy, eighth-grade boys basketball; and Joe Schaal, high school assistant boys basketball coach.
• The board approved the following volunteer coaches: Nathan Miller and Zac Kopp, junior high softball; John Stout, assistant football coach at high school; and Colton Woolsey, high school boys assistant basketball.
• The board approved the purchase of a 71-passenger bus from Central States Bus Sales for $82,876.
• Garrison reported that the finishing touches are being made on the two gym lobby bathrooms at the high school, and that they should be ready for graduation this Saturday night.
• James Hejl, a retired band director who moved to Vandalia last year, attended the meeting to compliment the district’s new band director, Amanda Moloney.
Hejl said he saw the VCHS band perform at last year’s football playoff game and then attended the district band concert last Friday.
“It’s like a different group,” Hejl said about this year’s band. It is a dramatic improvement.”