The Ohio Hi-Point Joint Vocational School might have a lot of programs but it has one mission: to prepare young people for a career. And at the district’s board of education meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 23, they heard about work-based learning (WBL), which gets their students one step closer to a job.
Two students began the presentation, starting with Eliana Borjas, who attends Marysville Early College High School. Borjas told how she initially planned to study aerospace engineering before discovering her interests lay in forensics. With that in mind, the WBL program found her an internship at the Union County coroner’s office.
“I realized I wanted to work with people not machinery,” Borjas told the board. She currently plans to study forensic anthropology at the Ohio State University.
The second student, Sean McGee, attends Marysville High School. He also changed his mind about his course of study. Though he had been leaning toward sports management he soon discovered a love of accounting.
WBL placed him at a chicken farm in Raymond, Ohio, as an accounting assistant. He said he works there three days a week from noon to 4 p.m.
“I’d go more if I could,” McGee said, “but I have other responsibilities.”
Tammy Cooper, WBL coordinator for Marysville Early College High School, then spoke, telling the board it’s “amazing” as they’ve seen involvement go from 17 students to over 100.
“I love when you can hear about their opportunities and what the businesses are allowing them to do,” Cooper stated. “It’s a great program, and we’re happy to have it at Marysville.”
Amy Wagner, WBL coordinator for Marysville High School, agreed, adding, “I appreciate the board allowing us to do programs like this.”
In a change of pace, the board then heard the career tech update from Brianna McCray, director of teaching and learning, rather than Brad Richardson, career tech assistant superintendent.
McCray focused on three areas: development and training for first-year teachers, the recent introductory meeting of the newly formed literacy committee, and the district-wide professional development day on Friday, Oct. 18.
With regard to the literacy committee, McCray said they focused on discovering who their students are and what they need. She also mentioned the science of reading. “How can we help them become better readers?” McCray asked.
She then expressed concern for how the students are doing on tests, something that was a main part of the conversation at the professional development day.
“We have a significant number of kids who still haven’t passed the tests they need to graduate,” McCray admitted. “Do we know who our students are? What strategies have the biggest impact on student learning?”
Superintendent Dr. Rick Smith next recognized the district’s students of the month: Laila Lynch, graphic media arts, Indian Lake High School and Ayden Clary, exercise science, Bellefontaine High School.
During his report, Treasurer Caleb Lang asked the board to approve the September 2024 financial statement, along with several other items, including an increase appropriations by $550,000 to the general fund for building improvements.
During the Oct. 16 board work session, Lang presented the five-year forecast, which he asked the board to approve at Wednesday’s meeting.
Finally, the board approved the deletion of building “F,” which refers to the administrative building on the hill, as of June 30, 2023.
During the superintendent’s report, members approved a design-build agreement with Grand Lake Building Co., LLC, for any remaining design services and the construction phase of the building C renovations project in an amount not to exceed $400,000. Demolition of the old building will begin on Nov. 1.
Smith let the board know Rick Jordan, a former OHP criminal justice teacher who left for a “nice job,” was back at the career center. He asked they approve Jordan as an educational aide from Nov. 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, where he will provide additional math support.
Then, on July 1, 2025, Jordan will take over the aviation/drone program. The board also approved a teacher’s supplemental as well as five extended days for Jordan for the 2025-2026 school year.
Staci McCully will transition from career tech financial assistant to assistant treasurer on Dec. 16, 2024. The current assistant treasurer, Patti Leiss, plans to retire on June 30, 2025. Lang described McCully as “a great person for the position.”
A replacement will be sought for the career tech financial assistant job.
Consent items presented by Smith for approval were:
• Internship agreements with Beauty and the Barber, Huntsville; City of Marysville; Holt Brothers Ltd. Plumbing, Heating & Air, Urbana; Home Depot, Marysville; Rascal Unit, Dublin; Scott Family McDonalds, Bellefontaine; Urbana Country Club;
• Employment, substitutes: Ethan Allen, Robert Shoffstall and LeAnna Salmeron; and
• Out-of-state professional development requests for: John Case, director of technology, to attend the 2024-2025 Innovation for Transformation spring meeting and site visit to Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., April 26-29, 2025; $2,500 from the general fund; and Kelsey Webb, public relations & marketing coordinator, to attend the AASA National Conference in New Orleans, La., March 6-8, 2025; $3,000 from the general fund.
The next regular board meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20.