Work is progressing on Penta Career Center’s recently acquired building at 1205 Corporate Drive, Holland.
At the October 10 school board meeting, Ryan Lee, center director, said demolition of the interior is complete, and they are now entering the design and construction phase.
Purchased for $1.1 million, the 1,600-square-foot building will be utilized for high school and adult education programming.
“It’s going to be an awesome place when complete,” Mr. Lee added.
In another construction matter, Superintendent Ed Ewers said plans are moving forward on the capital project at the main campus in Perrysburg Township.
“We are nearing time for RFOs, and the next step is master planning.
Request for Offer (RFO) is a document an organization issues to solicit bids or proposals from potential suppliers of goods or services.
The RFO typically includes information such as the scope of work and the evaluation criteria.
Other Business
In other business, the board of education:
•Accepted a resignation from Jody Goins, Aspire instructor, effective September 28.
•Approved the employment of Mary Rabquer, job coach, effective October 9, and Susan Volschow, secretary, one year limited contract, effective October 31.
•Hired two part-time adult education instructors at a rate of $31 per hour. They are Brenna Casper and Karen Francis.
•Approved 24 requests to attend professional meetings. Mr. Ewers noted that most of them pertain to competitions and conferences.
•Authorized four people to serve as chaperones for the DECA conference in Austin, Texas, in November. They are Sara Arthur, Jen Kregel, Janice Ray and Jessica Howell.
•Received an update from Marshall Wolf, career services coordinator, and Tim Ford, assistant director of pupil personnel, on the drug free program.
The club recognizes members for remaining drug free. There are 251 members this year, said Mr. Wolf, noting that students are encouraged to participate since upon graduation, most jobs they apply for will require drug testing.
Students are tested at random throughout the year and those who remain drug free are rewarded with special incentives such as a cookout and tickets to a Mud Hens game, he explained.
“The purpose of the club is positive not punitive,” said Mr. Wolf, pointing out that if a student tests positive they are offered treatment and if they refuse are “simply removed from the club.”
He added that since its inception several years ago, “not many have tested positive, maybe 20 at most.”
•Heard from Melissa Emerine and Amy Carey, career awareness coordinators, on the status of the program.
Career awareness is offered to students in grades kindergarten through 12, who learn the difference between an aptitude and an interest and how they can mesh the two together to explore careers they have never heard of before.
The goal is to expose students to many different careers, said Ms. Emerine.
They utilize Career Connections to provide a framework for students to develop a realistic plan for their futures.
It begins with career awareness in elementary grades. Through different projects, students become familiar with careers.
In the middle school grades of six through eight, students engage in career exploration, learning in more depth about potential careers.
At the high school, students engage in career planning with activities that provide advanced experiences and hands-on opportunities in a workplace.
The next school board meeting will be at 5:15 p.m., Wednesday, November 8, in the board meeting room, 9301 Buck Road, Perrysburg Township, and is open to the public.
