At the January 11 organizational meeting, the Penta Career Center board of education re-elected Judith Sander of Genoa, who represents the North Point Educational Service Center, as board president. Eric Benington of Perrysburg, representing Perrysburg Exempted Village Schools, was re-elected vice president.
In addition, Joan Kuchcinski, who represents the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West, has been appointed to the Penta school board.
She replaces Dr. James Telb, from the ESC of Lake Erie West, who served on the board from 2019 through December 2022.
Ms. Kuchcinski, who has been a member of the ESC since 2002, will serve a threeyear term, expiring December 31, 2025.
A retired Toledo Public Schools educator, she has served on or chaired several ESC committees over the years, including finance and facilities.
The Penta board is comprised of nine members who are chosen to serve through appointment by their respective boards of education.
In addition, the board voted to continue holding regular meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m., in the board meeting room at the career center with several exceptions.
The board will meet Monday, January 30, but have no meeting in February, and the following two month’s meetings will be on Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, April 5.
During the summer months, meetings will be conducted at 7:30 a.m. on June 7, July 12, if needed, and August 9. The June 29 meeting will be on a Thursday.
Other organizational items approved by the board include: compensation rates of $125 per meeting attended; appointment of Carrie Herringshaw, treasurer, as the board’s designee for Sunshine Laws and public records training; mileage of 55 cents per mile for attendance at all meetings, and the establishment of a $20,000 service fund only to be used to pay the expenses of board members in performance of their duties.
Other Business
In other business, the board:
•Agreed to waive the competitive bidding process for security and school protection upgrades and will seek bids from multiple qualified contractors.
•Approved a change order of $2,998 to Henry W. Bergman for underdrain installation and bus lot resurfacing.
“Additional asphalt was needed for leveling,” explained Mrs. Herringshaw.
•Accepted the retirement resignation of Ronald Kauffman, business instructor at Swanton, effective at the end of the school year.
They also accepted the resignations of Kelley Amstutz, administrative assistant, Christina Kerns, supervisor and Maya Shumpert, instructional aide, infant lab.
•Hired seven personnel. They are Danny Clayton, Payton Simpson and Heather Traxler, part-time adult education instructors, $31 per hour; Jason Vida, part-time adult education instructor, $33 per hour; Samantha Cooper, substitute school nurse, per substitute teacher pay; Maria Kopan, part-time adult education Aspire instructor, $25 per hour, and Kelly Robb, long-term substitute teacher, per salary schedule.
•Employed Kathryn Duquette, instructional aide, effective January 23.
•Agreed to seek bids for resurfacing of the loop road that circles the campus.
•Authorized Mrs. Herringshaw to seek collection of taxes from county auditors as they become available. Penta receives tax dollars from the counties in its member districts. They are Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood counties.
•Heard a presentation from Michele Johnson, med tech programs and medical office management instructor.
•Approved five requests to attend professional meetings.
The next board of education meeting will be at 5:15 p.m., Monday, January 30, in the board meeting room, 9301 Buck Road, Perrysburg Township, and is open to the public.
~Jane Maiolo
