At the March 9 meeting, the Penta Career Center board of education took action on a number of personnel matters.
The school board accepted the resignation of Brenna Loxley, satellite agriculture instructor at Anthony Wayne at the conclusion of the school year. Ms. Loxley had been filling in short term for the previous instructor who left.
The board also hired two employees on a part-time basis. They are Thomas Madigan, Aspire instructor, and Tyler Stockwell, adult education. Both are contracted through June 30 and will be paid $25 per hour.
Two secretaries were given one-year contracts, effective in March. They are Melissa Lang and Amanda Hubaker.
Other Business
In other business, the school board:
•Awarded a bid for underdrain installation and bus parking lot resurfacing to Henry Bergman for $206,730.
•Heard from student officers of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. Haley Reid serves as a national officer; Alle Kanan-McPhee is a state officer, and Courtney Slee is a regional officer.
They expressed appreciation to the board and staff for the opportunities they received through FCCLA. “This wouldn’t have happened without your support,” Alle said.
Haley concurred, “I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you. Your guidance helped me to reach my full potential.”
Superintendent Ed Ewers commended the students on their achievements, noting that having a Penta student selected as a national officer “doesn’t happen every day. We appreciate what you do for career tech.”
•Discussed a new science initiative the district plans to implement with its member schools at the junior, senior high and middle school levels. “The idea is to help students look at different career options based on their aptitude and interest,” the superintendent explained.
•Received an update on activities at the career center from assistant director Mike Harrigan. He said they recently held a STEM night at a Toledo Walleye game. “We had a lot of interactive activities including the welding simulator,” he explained and noted that a robotics student did the puck drop. “It was a fun event, and we had a really good turnout,” he added.
Mr. Harrigan also said job expo day was held on campus with about 100 employers attending. Some students were offered jobs, and others were afforded the opportunity to practice their job interview skills.
•Were presented with an intent to file a lawsuit by a group of area residents over the career center’s handling of mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
•Reviewed proposed changes to a number of policies pertaining to selective service, uniforms, weapons, grants and credit cards. The board will vote on the changes at the April meeting.
•Approved 25 requests to attend professional meetings. Mr. Ewers noted most requests are for leadership and career development conferences and with in-person conferences marks “a more normal look for this time of year.”
•Commended board member Ken Sutter who was recognized at the Ohio School Boards Association regional conference for 15 years of service in public education.
•Received a compliment from a visiting member school leader. Sherri Koback of the Springfield Local Schools board of education said she enjoys coming to Penta meetings when she can, adding, “We love everything Penta does.”
The next board of education meeting will be at 5:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, at the board meeting room on the campus, 9301 Buck Road, Perrysburg Township, and is open to the public.
~Jane Maiolo
