Greencastle schools making final preparations for semester

During a meeting at which perhaps the biggest news was who was there, not what was on the agenda Monday, the Greencastle School Board heard of prep work being performed for the 2024-25 school year.

New members Kathryn Dory and Jimmy Beasley made their first public appearances as school board members, joining veteran members Dale Pierce and Ed Wilson.

Organizing for the year, Wilson was elected president, with Pierce as vice president and Megan Inman, who was absent, as secretary.

During his report to the board, Supt. Jeff Gibboney noted that there are remaining teacher vacancies, but things seem to be looking up from the standpoint of recruiting teachers.

“Overall things are moving well with that,” Gibboney said. “I think our pools were a little deeper than in previous years.”

The superintendent speculated that the pool of educators may finally be rebounding following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two of the new faculty members were present on Monday in GHS Guidance Director Kayt Shuee and new Tzouanakis third-grade teacher Brandi Utley.

Other certified employee hires approved Monday include Tracy Robbins as Deer Meadow special education teacher, Carey Gorham as Deer Meadow guidance counselor and Whitney Reeder as Greencastle Middle School sixth-grade social studies teacher.

The superintendent also noted that he recently conducted the first meeting of the school year with building administrators and that all building offices are now open. Registration had been available online to returning students since July 17, while new students were able to register in person beginning on Thursday.

From a physical standpoint, Gibboney said painting work was in progress at Tzouanakis, Deer Meadow and Ridpath. Paving work is also nearly done in the large high school parking lot.

“We are making good progress with that. We are expecting things to be open by the end of the week,” Gibboney said.

Staff members return to work on Thursday, Aug. 1, while students return on Monday, Aug. 5.

“That’s always the known quantity — they’re coming on the first day of school,” Gibboney said. “I know all of us are excited to see our hallways and classrooms filled with kids.”

During her report to the board, Asst. Supt. Becky McPherson noted that new teacher orientation was to take place this week, while teacher leaders were set for a Friday meeting regarding strengthening their professional learning communities.

“I’m very excited about those new things and what it will do for our students,” McPherson said.

McPherson also noted that the school corporation learned earlier this month that it had been approved for a $14,000 grant for additional training for instructional assistants to “give them the tools and resources they need to help our students and help them understand how valuable they are to our GCSC family.”

In other business:

• Gibboney reported on a new development that could be a boon to the fledgling agriculture department at the high school and middle school.

“We have approximately 10-12 extra acres of land behind the transportation center that we’ve been paying someone to mow all these years,” Gibboney said.

Instead of paying to maintain grass, the schools will now instead partner with a local farmer to plant crops on those acres, giving ag students the chance to get hands-on experience.

Gibboney added that any money the school gets out of the sale of crops will be rolled back into the program.

The board approved the move unanimously.

“I think it’s an excellent opportunity for the kids and the program itself for getting it off the ground,” Beasley said.

“Sounds like a winner to me,” Dory agreed.

Beginning this semester, GHS and GMS will have ag classes for the first time in several decades, under the direction of teacher Allyson Webster.

• The board approved four corporation athletic sponsors for the coming year — Greencastle Pediatric Dentistry, Dave’s Heating and Cooling and Seniour’s Towing at the level of $1,500 each and Buffalo Wild Wings at $750.

A $1,000 donation from Walmart was also approved to the high school JAG program.

• During the organizational portion, the board also reappointed Kellie Romer as corporation treasurer and finance director, Shelley Gardner as deputy treasurer, Tina Williamson as high school ECA treasurer and Michelle Cooper of Lewis & Kappes as corporation attorney.

The board will continue to meet on the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at GCSC Central Office, except for December, March and May, when holidays or breaks will move the meeting to the third Monday.

• The board approved the following additional personnel items:

New hires: Chloe Foxworthy as Tzouanakis custodian, Nicole Dearinger and Dawn Stoltey as maintenance painters.

Transfers: Amanda Marshall from Deer Meadow instructional assistant to Tzouanakis secretary to the principal/ECA treasurer, Terry Tincery from Tzouanakis instruction assistant to Tzouanakis media assistant, Timothy Hawk from GMS instructional assistant to GHS instructional assistant.

Resignations: Tanis Nicklash as GMS English teacher and English academic bowl coach, Joel Thompson as GMS social studies teacher, Derek Lehr as GHS head custodian, Matthew Cavaness as McAnally custodian, Julie Bernier as GMS part-time custodian, Chloe Foxworthy as Tzouanakis custodian, Joshua Mills as Deer Meadow custodian, David Tiedemann as part-time, as-needed mechanic at transportation center, Emily Dickey as Tzouanakis Spell Bowl coach and Math Bowl coach.

Termination: Mark Dickerson as maintenance assistant/custodian at transportation center.

Substitute hires: Melodie Taylor, William Lawrence and Tifani Judy as substitute teachers; Tifani Judy, Casey Rossok and Dwight Meyer as substitute bus drivers.

Extracurricular activities: Joseph Lenihan as GHS girls’ assistant basketball coach.