By Candace Barczyk
The Vermilion Board of Education met on Monday, Sept. 10 with all members in attendance.
Vermilion Education Foundation presentation: Judy Riddle of the Vermilion Education Foundation gave a brief presentation on the founding and purpose of the organization, which has been raising funds for programs in the Vermilion Schools since 1987. She said the foundation’s original pool of money was $25,000, and since has funded dozens of cultural, athletic, and building enhancements for Vermilion students. She invited board members and administrators to the foundation’s annual dinner, to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018 beginning at 6 p.m. at Chez Francois.
Superintendent, Treasurer Goals Reviews: Both Superintendent Phil Pempin and Treasurer Justin Klingshirn briefly gave a synopsis of their goals for the district for 2018-19. Both asked the board for comments and revisions. Supt. Pempin had a list of goals in progress, such as a medical building, a walking/bike trail, utilization of scoreboards for branding and marketing, among others. His completion priorities included the sale of the former Vermilion Elementary School property, negotiating union contracts in 2019, and a state-of-the-art science wing.
Klingshirn said it is difficult for him to come up with a long list of goals, as much of his job is tied to governmental regulations. However, he said the focus is to recover more ancillary sources of funding so that eventually, the treasurer’s office would only be funded by the General Fund at a rate of 25%
Treasurer’s Report: Klingshirn reported that the district is pretty much on pace financially as to what was predicted. He pointed out where some money came in early, and where the district had three pay periods in the month of August. Klingshirn said the district will know more about where it is headed in January.
Student trips: The board approved the following: 7th Grade trip to Chicago, May 15-17, 2019 at a cost of $532 per student; 5th Grade trip to Henry Ford and Greenfield Village, April 10, 2019 at a cost of $110 per student; 6th Grade Field Trip to Mohican Outdoor School, Nov. 7-9, 2018 at a cost of $165 per student.
Ritter Board: School board members approved the appointment of Pam Reese to the Board of Trustees of Ritter Public Library effective immediately through December 31, 2018.
Upcoming board meetings: The board approved its meetings through the end of the year: Monday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. (rescheduled a week earlier due to the board’s annual conference in Columbus); and Monday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
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