MOUNT VERNON — The start of the school year is ushering in some changes at the Knox County Career Center, as the board of education learned at its meeting on Thursday. Perhaps the most welcome news is that construction and maintenance projects are nearly complete.

New signage has been installed to direct traffic through the parking lots, and there will be a limited number of parking spots designated for River Room Cafe customers, including one for handicapped individuals.

After the introduction of new staff members and brief comments form them, Adult Education Director Jane Marlow reported her department is participating in a transition program General Motors is providing for its employees in Mansfield. She said KCCC staff are assisting the soon-to-be-displaced employees with things like resume writing and job search counseling.

During the business portion of the meeting, the board authorized adjustments to the table of organization. Under the leadership of new superintendent Bernie Pachmayer, the administrative team will consist of Deb Cisler, director; Mike Warbel, principal of student services; Jeff Lavin, principal of curriculum and instruction; Robert Kirk, principal of students and facilities manager; and Marlow. The board also approved changes to the monthly meeting structure/agenda format.

Regarding personnel, the board approved additional instructors for adult programs, granted extra service/extended days stipends, accepted David Hall as a college intern in horticulture, and hired Carl Pachmayer as a substitute for the 2009-10 school year.

Besides approving routine fiscal actions, the board authorized the solicitation of bids for a serviceable used or new handicapped-accessible 72-passenger school bus.

Other actions taken by the board included the approval of revisions to the practical nursing handbook, the adoption of the preschool handbook and additional short-term adult education programs. The board also approved a number of field trips for health technologies students and appointed Richard McLarnan as its delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference in November.

No further action was taken.