Board members recognized for years of service
In an effort to introduce more children to the career possibilities available through Ohio Hi-Point (OHP) Joint Vocational School, a new program presents those opportunities in a fun, hands-on way.
Career awareness coordinator Mark Butler and Education Academy teacher Angie Walls told the district’s board of education all about it at their regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
The Career Exploration Program offers two options to area schools: student-led presentations on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, or teacher-facilitated career kits. And, Butler said, “it’s taking off like wildfire.“
Though they didn’t start rolling out the program until October 2024, they expect to interact with about 7,000 students by the end of the school year. The various program kits let children do activities like build a candy machine (structural construction) and learn how to give a physical in the Teddy Bear Clinic (nursing).
Walls believes the program has a double-edged benefit for OHP. By making people more aware of what the career center has to offer, it increases the likelihood they’ll one day apply.
And on Wednesday, Feb. 5, the district will take four students—representing their Education Academy, construction, health careers and engineering programs—to the Ohio Statehouse as part of the Ohio ACTE Legislative Conference. They will have a display in the rotunda that day.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to talk about our multiple programs,” Kelsey Webb, marketing and public relations coordinator, told the board.
Also, education arts student Gabby Koon (Indian Lake High School) created an art piece out of a plastic Halloween skeleton, which will be part of the OH ACTE art show, also on Feb. 5.
“It shows how you come alive because you find your passion and become the best person you can be,” Walls explained.
In addition to the regular agenda, the district acknowledged their board member “superheroes” for their years of service as January is Board Recognition Month. Anne Reames, board president, has been there the longest—since 2004.
Other members who have served the district for over a decade are Tom Brookhart (2010, Waynesfield-Goshen), David Campbell (2011, MRESC), Paul McMahill (2011, Mechanicsburg) and Matt McConnell (2012, board vice president, Triad).
District Update
Dr. Rick Smith, district superintendent, told the board he plans to meet with Ohio State Representative Tracy Richardson in Marysville on Feb. 7 to go over CTE legislation since she can’t be at the event on Feb. 7.
He also spoke about the Fair School Funding Plan, which Smith described as “dead in the water,” adding, “I don’t know what the next cycle will be,” funding-wise.
With that in mind, Smith plans to meet with four other career centers in March to discuss how they can work together.
Finally, he stated the new wooden rails are in but can’t be installed until the ground warms up.
The district update included naming the January 2025 Main Campus Students of the Month as Latasha Alig, Health Careers Academy, Indian Lake High School, and Gabrielle Koon, Education Arts, also from Indian Lake.
Career Tech Update
In his report, Brad Richardson, assistant superintendent, updated the board on the district’s strategic plan goals. This included their industry-recognized credentials—they’re currently at 357 toward their goal of 1,400, which Richardson described as “a really good start because a lot will be earned in the spring.”
As for enrollment, the school is now at 73 percent building capacity with a goal of 85 percent. They also increased their work-based learning wages goal from $500,000 to $1 million since last year’s wages earned—over $850,000—“blew that out of the water.”
In addition, Richardson said they’re “off to a good start” regarding innovative ideas. They’ve had seven submitted so far and hope to implement three. Their growth target in that area is 20 by 2030.
Regarding applications, Richardson said they had 680 after their first priority window closed. Because of that number, they will have to do a lottery for 10 of their programs since they’re over capacity. And the district is still accepting regular applications so they expect that number to grow.
For instance, OHP received over 100 applications to the cosmetology program but only have room for 25 new students. They simply don’t have the space to add more and, Smith interjected, “The state isn’t funding cosmetology.”
The only program where numbers are low at the moment is EMT, which is still in its first year and has been plagued by instructor issues.
“Instructors,” Richardson reminded the board, “sell our programs.”
Still, he concluded, “I feel we’re in a really good spot.”
He hopes to have accepted students at the school for a visit by spring break so they can work out schedules by April.
Richardson then told the board how the students are doing with regard to this being “competition season.” Students are preparing to compete in several local and regional competitions like Business Professionals of America (BPA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), SkillsUSA and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
In closing, Richardson mentioned the second annual Work-Based Learning Banquet for the campus is 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27. This is an opportunity for OHP to recognize their business and community partners in helping students become career-ready.
The school has approximately 132 work-based learning placements this school year.
In other action, the board:
• approved internship agreements with Birt’s Masonry, Bellefontaine; Precision Strip Inc., Kenton; Salon 122, Marysville; Schorr Architects Inc., Dublin; Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Marysville;
• adopted the special education model policies and procedures released by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in December 2024;
• approved the employment of Shelby Clem, Richard Whitehead and Linda Frantz as substitute teachers from Jan. 13, 2025, to June 30, 2025, on a one-year, limited contract. (Frantz’s contract began Jan. 23);
• accepted the resignations of Elyse Brown, CT financial assistant, effective Jan. 24; Shelby Clem, administrative assistant, effective Jan. 10; Ryan Gilbert, cybersecurity instructor, effective Jan. 6, superseding the previous resignation and separation agreement effective Feb. 19 approved at the Nov. 20 board of education meeting; Andrew Goings, fire/EMT instructor, effective Jan. 6;
• approved a number of Out-of-State Study Trips including the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla., April 25-30; the HOSA National Conference in Nashville, Tenn., June 17-22; the Skills USA National Conference in Atlanta, June 23-28; the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., May 7-11; the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., July 5-9;
• approved the following Out-of-State Professional Development: John Marshall, Graham High School satellite agriculture instructor, to attend the Intro to Ag, Food, Natural Resources CASE Institute Training at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Miss., June 1-7, and
Amy Wagner, Marysville High School Work-based Learning Coordinator, to attend the 2025 ACTE Work Based Learning Conference in Bellevue, Wash., April 1-5;
• accepted a donation of a Duramax car battery to be used in the automotive technology program at OHP from Holly Pettit of Urbana with an estimated value of $180.
The next meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Mark Butler, career awareness coordinator, and Angie Walls, Education Academy teacher, review the Career Exploration Programs for elementary students, including the teacher-facilitated career kits, at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Board of Education’s regular meeting on Wednesday. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)