A new assistant superintendent, Mark Pogliano, will join Penta Career Center for the next school year.

The Penta board of education approved a three-year contract for him at a June 29, meeting, with a salary of $125,947.

Mr. Pogliano, who is currently principal of Jackson Area Career Center in Jackson, Michigan, begins his duties July 11.

“He brings a wealth of experience and leadership in career-technical education at both the high school and postsecondary level, which will benefit Penta Career Center as we prepare for the future,” Superintendent Edward Ewers said.

He replaces Bob Falkenstein, who resigned in December.

Prior to nine years at Jackson Area Career Center, he was the associate dean of occupational programs at Schoolcraft College from 2011 to 2013.

He worked as an engineering and computer-aided design teacher with the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools for five years and as assistant principal and career-technical education director from 2005 to 2011.

Mr. Pogliano earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Michigan University. He has a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix.

In addition, he served on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 21st Century Talent Creation Subcommittee; spent two terms as the career-technical education representative for the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, and was previously chair of Michigan’s Career Education and Planning Districts.

Teachers Union Contract Approved

The board approved a new three-year contract for the certified staff in the Penta Career Center Education Association (PCCEA).

New labor union agreement includes a 1 percent increase in base wages for the 2022-23 school year, 1.5 percent increase for 2023-24 and 1.75 percent for 2024-25.

The bargaining unit, which has 160 members, ratified the agreement June 21.

The contract runs from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025.

Other changes are:

•Added a column on the salary schedule beginning with Step 16 for master’s +30 semester hours/master’s equivalent +30 semester hours.

•Gives one-time payments to employees as follows– $5,000 to all bargaining unit members who worked during 2021-22 and are working in 2022-23; $3,000 to all who work in 2022-23 and 2023-24, and $1,000 to all who work in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

•Increases the hourly rate for extra duties from $30 to $33

•Sets mileage reimbursement at 55 cents per mile instead of 50 cents.

•Increase meal reimbursements from $10 to $14 for breakfast; $15 to $16 for lunch and $25 to $29 for dinner.

Monica Dansack, public relations coordinator, said no changes were made to insurance benefits or employee contributions for premiums.

Employees continue to pay 15 percent of the premium if enrolled in the PPO and 10 percent in the consumer driven health plan.

Free Meals and Uniforms

The board took its annual action to waive the payment of fees for workbooks, supplies and uniform costs for students.

However, this year, they also decided to waive breakfast and lunch costs for students and families.

For more information, see the website at pentacareer center.org.

The board also approved the transfer of $234,949 to the student enrichment fund to pay for student and staff expenses at local, state and national competitions including transportation, lodging, meals and registration.

According to Treasurer Carrie Herringshaw, the principle in the fund, managed by the Toledo Community Foundation, remains untouched while the interest is used each year for expenses.

Personnel Matters

The board took the following action on personnel:

•Accepted the resignation of Kathryn Waltermeyer, job coach, pending hire as an instructional aide for 2022-23.

•Approved employment of Rachel Ewing, substitute bus/van driver, $16.18 per hour, through June 30, 2023; Regan Findling, social worker, one-year limited contract; Brad Rhegness and Kathryn Waltermeyer, instructional aides, 180-day probationary contracts for 2022-23.

•Approved employment of Scott Carpenter, High Schools That Work coordinator, $300 per day, through June 30, 2023; Dennis Ciesinski, parttime adult education instructor, $25 per hour, through June 30, 2023; Jodi Farschman, English instructor, one-year limited contract for 2022-23; Abigail Martin, math instructor, one-year limited contract for 2022-23; Kamilah Bakhsh, adult education Aspire instructor, $25 per hour, through June 30, 2022; Amanda Valdez, instructor, four-year contract; and 2022 UT summer workshop stipends for Alyssa Johnson, culinary instructor, $5,391; Collin Jones, industrial maintenance instructor, $6,693; Payton Keller, cosmetology instructor, $5,391; Kristine Seibert, sophomore exploratory instructor in health, $5,493.

•Approved five requests to attend professional meetings and staff development.

•Recognized Juneteenth as a paid holiday for 11- and 12- month non-teaching employees and 12-month staff.

At the June 8 meeting, the board, took the following action on personnel:

•Accepted the resignations of Vicki Hoffman, CBI instructor, Genoa, at the conclusion of 2021-22; Allison Pamer, English instructor, at the conclusion of 2021-22; Kenneth Ray, culinary instructional aide, effective May 30.

•Approved employment of Barbara Brinke, substitute secretary, $17.53 per hour through June 30, and $17.88 per hour from July 1 to August 5; Christy Hinz, Chad Detterman, Margaret Orzechowski, Katherine Skaff, Tina Vogelpohl, Kathryn Waltermeyer, Myranda Welch, job coaches for 2022- 23; and Daniel Rieske, MacKenzie Secory, Kinsey Stevens, Owen Krupp, 2022 student summer workers, $11.50 per hour.

•Approved employment of Kamilah Bakhsh, adult education Aspire instructor, $25 per hour, through June 30, 2023; Julie Hannan, adult education instructor, $25 per hour, through June 30, 2022; Colleen Kreais, agriculture instructor, $30 per hour, through June 30, 2022.

•Approved one-year limited contracts for 2022-23 for Kimberly Coffman, math instructor; Kersten Davis, intervention specialist; Melissa Smith, science instructor; Thomas Carter, sophomore exploratory instructor in transportation; Johnny Garcia, English instructor; Jessica Arbuckle, assistant supervisor, Aspire.

•Authorized four-year employment contracts for instructors Cortney Humphrey and Rami Mansour.

•Approved as Aspire instructors, $25 per hour, through June 30, 2023–Jo- Anne Chrysochoos, Susan Hyman, Anne Keil, William Kopaniasz, Jennifer Legakis, Catherine Manol, Thomas Madigan, Pamela Martin, Katie McClure, Jennifer Mowrer, Darryl Robinson, Diane Rogers, Claudia Ruedisueli, Patricia Senerius, Barbara Szydlowski, Delores Young, Chris Zervos, Persilla Zervos, Taylor Zuchowski; and adult education instructors, $25 per hour, through June 30, 2023–Emite Davis, Julie Hannan, Chris Lautermilch, Todd Miller, Kelly Robb, Bill Shaffer, Craig Wagner.

Other Business

In other business, the board:

•Set temporary appropriations for fiscal year 2023 until final appropriations are approved. Those include $33,540,705, general; $1,603,452, permanent improvements; $607,580, food service; $140,000, trust; $500,000, rotary; $516,122, adult education; $250,000, local funds; $50,000, student activities, and $100,384, student success and wellness.

•Met in executive session to discuss district school security arrangements and emergency response protocols.

The board’s next meeting, if needed, will be at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 13, in the board room of the school, 9301 Buck Road.

The meeting is open to the public.