Summer Facilities Update #2: Brightening & Refreshing Our Spaces
Today’s update (2 of 5) highlights improvements to lighting, ceilings, stairways, and regulatory signage across the district this summer.
The most noticeable change is the new LED lighting found in the high school math and agriculture education hallways, restrooms, and auditorium lobby. These lights are brighter, more efficient, and virtually maintenance-free for at least five years. In fact, a Department of Energy study found LEDs are 25% more efficient than fluorescent lights, but the most significant savings will come from less maintenance needed to keep the lights working.
While installing the lights, new ceiling grids and tiles were added to some of the restrooms. The ceilings were also raised in some of the restrooms, making them feel larger and, with a fresh coat of paint, increasing the brightness.
Other areas in all three buildings were also revitalized with new paint. In the elementary, all of the handrails were repainted, including the one at the exterior loading dock. The second and third floor hallways in the middle school received a fresh coat, as did multiple stairwells in the high school.
Finally, old regulatory signage was replaced between the high school and elementary to ensure safety in this high-traffic pedestrian and vehicle area.
Casey Morman and our facilities team are working every day to make our campus safer and more welcoming, and we appreciate the work they do.
Today’s update (2 of 5) highlights improvements to lighting, ceilings, stairways, and regulatory signage across the district this summer.
The most noticeable change is the new LED lighting found in the high school math and agriculture education hallways, restrooms, and auditorium lobby. These lights are brighter, more efficient, and virtually maintenance-free for at least five years. In fact, a Department of Energy study found LEDs are 25% more efficient than fluorescent lights, but the most significant savings will come from less maintenance needed to keep the lights working.
While installing the lights, new ceiling grids and tiles were added to some of the restrooms. The ceilings were also raised in some of the restrooms, making them feel larger and, with a fresh coat of paint, increasing the brightness.
Other areas in all three buildings were also revitalized with new paint. In the elementary, all of the handrails were repainted, including the one at the exterior loading dock. The second and third floor hallways in the middle school received a fresh coat, as did multiple stairwells in the high school.
Finally, old regulatory signage was replaced between the high school and elementary to ensure safety in this high-traffic pedestrian and vehicle area.
Casey Morman and our facilities team are working every day to make our campus safer and more welcoming, and we appreciate the work they do.
Maintenance and Facilities Supervisor Casey Morman and his staff have been hard at work updating and preparing our facilities for the upcoming school year, and this is the first of multiple posts we will be sharing to show their progress. We will start with three of the most visible exterior projects: installation of two new stoplights, installation of three new exterior doors, and sealing of the north parking lot.
The old stoplights, installed in 1969, became a problem last year as they needed to have the bulbs replaced every couple weeks. The new stoplights are equipped with LED bulbs, which will last several years before replacement is needed. The lights were also raised to allow safe clearance for vehicles traveling below, and a new operating panel was installed. Safety grant money Deputy Crouch and Morman secured for the district covered the entire cost of the project.
The safety grant also covered the entire cost of the installation of three new aluminum exterior doors in the weight room (one set of double doors, one single door) and industrial technology shop (one single door). Because the doors are made of aluminum, they will provide durability with little need for maintenance.
Finally, with the north parking lot heading into its third year, it was time for it to be sealed and lined. Moving forward, each of the parking lots (north; east, including the drive around the medieval garden; and west in front of the high school) will be sealed on a three-year rotation to maximize the lifespan of the asphalt.
We appreciate the work the Maintenance and Facilities team does to keep our facilities safe, up-to-date, and welcoming every day!
The old stoplights, installed in 1969, became a problem last year as they needed to have the bulbs replaced every couple weeks. The new stoplights are equipped with LED bulbs, which will last several years before replacement is needed. The lights were also raised to allow safe clearance for vehicles traveling below, and a new operating panel was installed. Safety grant money Deputy Crouch and Morman secured for the district covered the entire cost of the project.
The safety grant also covered the entire cost of the installation of three new aluminum exterior doors in the weight room (one set of double doors, one single door) and industrial technology shop (one single door). Because the doors are made of aluminum, they will provide durability with little need for maintenance.
Finally, with the north parking lot heading into its third year, it was time for it to be sealed and lined. Moving forward, each of the parking lots (north; east, including the drive around the medieval garden; and west in front of the high school) will be sealed on a three-year rotation to maximize the lifespan of the asphalt.
We appreciate the work the Maintenance and Facilities team does to keep our facilities safe, up-to-date, and welcoming every day!
The Van Buren Local School District Board of Education recently recognized local business DNC Hydraulics for its strong support of Van Buren Local Schools.
Superintendent Dr. Jason Inkrott presented the award to the owner of DNC Hydraulics, Cody Conaway, who has supported the district by offering many career exploration opportunities to students.
The honor is part of the Ohio School Boards Association’s (OSBA) 2025 Business Honor Roll program. The program gives school districts a way to thank local businesses and recognize them for their valuable contributions to schools. OSBA provides personalized certificates and other resources to help school districts with their recognition activities.
Van Buren Local School District and its board members, administrators, staff, and students would like to express our sincere appreciation for all our OSBA Honor Roll recipients do for our district.
Superintendent Dr. Jason Inkrott presented the award to the owner of DNC Hydraulics, Cody Conaway, who has supported the district by offering many career exploration opportunities to students.
The honor is part of the Ohio School Boards Association’s (OSBA) 2025 Business Honor Roll program. The program gives school districts a way to thank local businesses and recognize them for their valuable contributions to schools. OSBA provides personalized certificates and other resources to help school districts with their recognition activities.
Van Buren Local School District and its board members, administrators, staff, and students would like to express our sincere appreciation for all our OSBA Honor Roll recipients do for our district.
Sign up for our elementary blood drive, Sept. 23rd, 2025, starting at 2:30 PM in the elementary cafeteria!
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive
🎒 Van Buren Families – Get Ready for Back to School! 🏫
Our Back to School Hub is now live! This one-stop resource has everything you need to prepare for the upcoming school year—school supply lists, calendars, and more. Check it out here: https://www.vbschools.net/page/back-to-school-hub
✨ Save the Date! ✨
Mark your calendars for Opening Knight on Tuesday, August 19th!
📢 Stay tuned – building principals will be sharing more specific details with families soon.
We can’t wait to welcome our Black Knights back for an amazing year!
Congratulations to Van Buren Local School District Resource Officer Deputy Matt Crouch for receiving his Master SRO lapel pin and certificate this week at the 2025 Ohio School Resource Officers Association (OSROA) annual conference in Sandusky.
To learn more, visit https://www.vbschools.net/article/2029055.
To learn more, visit https://www.vbschools.net/article/2029055.
Members of the Class of 2015, are you ready for a walk down memory lane?
It is time to send the letters you wrote to yourselves ten years ago, so email your name and mailing address to Brian Bratt (bbratt@vbschools.net) at your convenience so you can flash back to your senior year and remember the good old days!
It is time to send the letters you wrote to yourselves ten years ago, so email your name and mailing address to Brian Bratt (bbratt@vbschools.net) at your convenience so you can flash back to your senior year and remember the good old days!
Join our team for the 2025-2026 school year as a HS Science Teacher! Learn more here: vbschools.net/page/employment
Join our team for the 2025-26 school year as the High School/Middle School Secretary! Learn more here: vbschools.net/page/employment
Congratulations to our retiring teachers, Michael Daniels, Lisa Kendrick, and Linda Schwemley. We appreciate your years of service to our district and wish you well in retirement!
Join our team for the 2025-2026 school year as an Elementary Teacher! Learn more here:
vbschools.net/page/employment
Congratulations, Class of 2025! Today we celebrated your hard work, resilience, memories you created over the last 13 years, and positive impact you will have on the world. The future starts now, but you will always be Black Knights!
Have a great summer! Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
- VBHS Staff
James Hoops, District 81 representative in the Ohio House of Representatives, visited Van Buren on Thursday, May 29, to meet with superintendent Dr. Jason Inkrott and Van Buren mayor Ed May to discuss ways he can assist the excellent students, staff, and community of Van Buren Local School District.
We appreciate Representative Hoops advocating on behalf of our school and community!
Have a happy and safe summer!
-VBES Staff
#BeABlackKnight
The Class of 2025 Awards Assembly was held last night, and what a celebration it was! We came together to honor the incredible achievements of our seniors, and they’ve certainly given us plenty to celebrate. Students were recognized for various academic, athletic, and community-based accomplishments, and the class as a whole earned more than $1.2 million in scholarships and financial aid.
Now, there’s just one final milestone ahead: graduation. Join us as we send off the Class of 2025 in style this Sunday, June 1, at 2:00 P.M. in the high school gymnasium. Let’s cheer them on as they take their next big step!
Today was a big day for the fifth graders, so here are a few more pictures from the clap out and bridge ceremony!
Congrats to our 5th grade graduates! 🎓 Good luck in middle school and everyone have a safe and fun summer! See you next year!
#BeABlackKnight
Congrats to Ellis and Kolsen for having perfect attendance this school year!
#BeABlackKnight
Congrats to Mrs. Parsell's class for their Positive Behavior Referral!
#BeABlackKnight
