ASHLAND — Students in the Culinary Careers Management program at Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center were winners at the Ohio Culinary Invitational recently hosted by Wayne County Career Center.
Feibi Wang, of Ashland, received a gold medal, was on the first place team, and was the overall top winner, receiving $32,000 in scholarships from Sullivan University.
Winning a silver medal was Beth Cadwallader, of Mapleton. Kiana Schaeg, a senior from Mapleton, was awarded a Gold medal. Winning a Bronze medal was Tabbi Martin, a senior from Ashland. She was also on the 2nd place team and received a $10,000 scholarship to Sullivan University.
Also winning a silver medal was Cameron Argo, a senior from Ashland. He was on the third-place team and received a $6,000 scholarship to Sullivan University.
In other news from the Career Center, general fund spending for the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center will be about the same in fiscal 2019 as it was projected in the district’s current five-year financial forecast.
District Treasurer Julie Smith presented a draft of the proposed new spending plan at the Career Center board of education’s regular meeting Thursday (May 17).
The draft 2019 budget calls for general fund spending totaling just over $6,311,000 compared to just over $6,235,000 in the forecast. Officials said the difference between the two figures represents a possible new program under the school’s supervision.
“We’ve been approached by a district to potentially take on a satellite program,” Superintendent Mike Parry explained. “If the need arises, we want to be able to do that for them and if it doesn’t arise, that money will go back into the pocketbook.”
Smith told the board that salaries and benefits will increase because of current satellite programs at the Ashland County Community Academy and the Loudonville-Perrysville School District while purchased services are up because of increased college credit plus program costs, including a new business program officials plan to start with Ashland University next school year.
Supply costs will be up because of an initiative to provide Chromebook computers to every student while other expenses and professional dues and fees will be higher to cover increased credentialing costs for students.
Smith also pointed out that she is trying to manage and leverage capital costs and career technical equipment and initiatives though the district’s permanent improvement fund. That includes new equipment for the RAMTEC lab, renovations and additions in the Animal and Veterinary Science lab, security upgrades, simulating equipment for the Criminal Justice program, Graphic lab renovations and roofing issues that need to be addressed.
Smith also said that while her revenue estimates are conservative, her five-year forecast shows an increase as efforts to attract more students are successful and the school gets off the state funding guarantee. Smith and Parry say they hope to pass the Fiscal 2019 budget in the next several months, well ahead of the state’s mid-September deadline.
In other business, the Career Center board approved new three-year limited administrative contracts for Parry and Smith, effective August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2022. Both will receive $2,000 increases each year, putting Parry’s salary at $115,000 and Smith’s at $88,500 in the start of the third year.
The board also approved an amendment to Smith’s current contract to grant $1,500 pay increases this year and in 2019. The contract originally did not include any raises.
The Career Center Board also heard a year-end report on activities by the Rotary-sponsored Interact Club from school and community liaison and club advisor Deb Gilson and three incoming club officers.
The list of several dozen activities included helping with the July 4th fireworks, reading at Brethren Care Nursing Home, helping new Career Center students, a car wash to support Red Cross programs, helping with local United Way activities, working at Malabar Farm Heritage Days, supporting two club fish fries and providing financial help to families of two school students and a Hillsdale student.
The board also approved contracts for a number of certified employees in the secondary and adult divisions, supplemental and club advisory contracts and contracts for a number of classified employees. New food service breakfast and lunch prices also were approved – raising the cost of breakfast from $1.40 to $1.75 and lunch from $2.85 to $3.25. The cost of reduced price breakfast and lunch and adult meals will remain the same.
