It took four years, but in 1974, the Ohio Hi-Point (OHP) vocational school finally opened its doors to students. And on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, the career center will remember those 50 years in a big way.
Kelsey Webb, OHP marketing and public relations coordinator, gave an overview of that celebration to the OHP board of education at their regular meeting Wednesday, Aug. 28.
The day will include two main segments: Formal recognition from 1 to 2:30 p.m., which will feature a keynote address from Deputy Director Jeremy Varner, and the all-class reunion and community event from 3 to 7:30 p.m.
“This is our chance to bring everyone back to see all the changes that have happened over the last 50 years,” Webb said.
OHP hopes to see a significant turnout of former students and staff, and they’ve invited area mayors, commissioners and township trustees. The community is welcome to attend the celebration and explore the career center.
Besides food trucks, live music and challenge coins, OHP will hand out boxes of ASPIRE chocolates, specifically created by Chef Jason Cobb for the event. Each chocolate has a different flavor and will represent one of the school’s core values.
“I’ve tried them,” Dr. Rick Smith, school superintendent, said. “They’re pretty … and pretty tasty.”
In preparing for the anniversary, they saw how the school has always followed those six core values, which are: Accountability, Service, Prepared, Innovation, Relationships and Engagement.
To promote that idea, Webb announced the school has launched a new six-part docuseries, each one exploring a different value. The first episode — accountability — launched on Thursday, Aug. 29, and is available on YouTube, Facebook and at ohiohipoint.com/news.
Though OHP officially became a school in 1970, it took three years for the levy they needed to pass, and they finally opened in the fall of 1974. They started with six programs—cosmetology, diversified health occupations, electricity, small engine repair, data accounting and carpentry.
Adult education options were introduced a year later.
Today the school offers more than 50 programs to a student body that now numbers over 700.
You can find more information about the celebration on the school’s website.
Innovative Ideas Awards
Board President Anne Reames introduced one of five recipients of the 2024 Innovative Ideas Awards, which was developed as part of the Vision 2030 strategic plan. Robin Williams was on-hand to accept her award, which she and Jon Cook received for their ideas to make the picking-up and dropping-off process more efficient.
“We created separate areas for parents, buses and student drivers,” Williams explained. “It has worked very well.”
They also found a way to help student athletes get to their practices and games faster by giving them a specific parking area with passes.
Other recipients, who weren’t in attendance Wednesday night, were: Cindy Harlan and Ginger Shellenberger for organizing the ASPIRE Beauty Fairs, which connected OHP spa tech and cosmetology students with industry professionals; and Jayne Jones, who introduced a way for seniors to earn class credit and hours as teacher assistants.
Student Wellness
With the goal of making sure everyone gets something to eat, the board approved the student wellness funds and DPIA funding plan. This includes funding from the 2022/2023 school year that must be spent.
“We want to improve what we’re doing plus add mental health programs,” Smith said.
This money will be distributed in 18 ways, including:
- Mental health counselor – $110,000
- Free lunch – $130,000
- School resource officer – $90,000
- Peak Pantry – $10,000
- Student mental health activity/Club S.O.S. – $6,000
- Discovery Riders – $4,000
- Care Solace – $8,100
Treasurer Action Items
Treasurer Lang presented the July 2024 financial statement, along with the following, for approval:
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- Interest and investments: HNB Gen Op Investments: $17,706.68; HNB Bldg Fund Investments: $675.48; HNB Bond Trust: $145.85; Star Ohio interest: $30,034.57; Middlefield Bank interest: $58.16; Richwood Bank interest: $1.68; Total: $48,622.42
- Transfer of $30,000 from the general fund to Perkins FY25.
Superintendent Recommendations
Smith asked the board to pass a resolution allowing the school to hire substitute teachers who do not hold post-secondary degrees.
“It’s making the covid law permanent as the substitute shortage remains an issue,” Smith said.
The resolution passed, though three board members voted no. Substitutes at OHP are now required to have a high school diploma or the equivalent, to obtain an approved substitute license from the state, and to undergo a background check.
Other consent items from Smith were:
- Internship agreements with All Ohio Welding, St. Paris and CCOC Solutions, LLC, West Mansfield.
- Employment of Katland Gilbert, allied health instructor, who was also given a teacher’s supplemental contract for the 2024/2025 school year along with 11 extended days.
- Classified substitute pay rates as follows: clinic aide – $16.50/hour; Cook/cafeteria – $14/hour; EMIS – $18.50/hour; Facilities & grounds – $14/hour; Secretarial/aide – $14;
- Pending receipt of required paperwork, approved substitutes are Deborah Henry (secretary, $14/hour), Melissa Miller (clinic aide, $16.50/hour), Barbara Triplett (secretary, $14/hour), and teachers Darien King, Adaleigh Rowe and LeAnna Salmeron at $115/day.
- The board approved disposing of books for the health careers as well as the Allied Health and nursing programs.
- Welding technologies received various equipment from Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, Marysville, valued at approximately $2,955.
- IXL, which is on the approved list of evidence-based reading intervention programs and was established by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, was approved.
- The board resolved to abide by the constitution and by-laws of the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council (EPC) and elected to become a member.
- Stipends were accepted for: transportation coordinator, $1,850; bus driver trainer, $700 per trainee; bus driver trainer, first time, $500.
- Luis Lares, facility specialist, has resigned, effective Aug. 14.
- Terrie Bodey, career tech supervisor, and Amy Wagner, Marysville High School work-based learning coordinator, were paid to chaperone four students to Charlotte, NC, for approximately $2,930 out of the general fund and $2,999 paid by the CTSO/student.
- Laban J. Laird was hired as the new facility specialist.
Smith recommended the board approved using Grand Lake Building Co., LLC, to provide design-build services for the building C renovations project. According to board member Paul McMahill, the company “guaranteed they’d have it done when we wanted it done,” and, he added, “I was impressed.”
The next meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25. It will be preceded by a records commission meeting at 4.
