Greencastle teacher’s union calls for unity in face of state actions

With the collective bargaining process about to begin for Greencastle teachers, the local union is expressing its gratitude that such rights have not been weakened by the Indiana General Assembly.

During the monthly report of the Greencastle Classroom Teachers Association before the Greencastle School Board recently, President Erin Brown made the strongest statement the association has made since such reports began more than a year ago.

“The last legislative session brought many attacks on public education and educators specifically,” Brown said. In the last session, our collective bargaining rights were at risk. Luckily we were able to maneuver those attacks, but I fear future legislative sessions might be worse.”

In this light, she asked for unity between the association, administrators and the community.

“It’s very important that we continue to build a community that supports public education. Our students are counting on us, so I ask that you come alongside us and fight for what’s best for students,” Brown said. “You see, what’s best for students includes more than what content is being taught in math or what books are being read in language arts. It also includes transporting students to and from school, making sure they’re fed and well prepared while they’re in our care, sitting alongside the students to provide them with support and interventions to help them find success both academically and personally. But we know that is just the tip of the iceberg.”

She noted that the CBA represents 122 educators who, on the whole, are more experienced than the average Indiana school district.

“Statistics show that most teachers leave education within the first five years,” Brown said, “but I’m happy to say that in Greencastle, 57 percent of our teachers have been here for more than five years. Forty percent of our teachers have been here for 10 years or more, and we have three educators who have dedicated over 30 years in the classroom at Greencastle. We have an amazing staff here, and I’m proud to call this my home.”

Brown expressed her gratitude that salaries were raised this year and, as the collective bargaining period is about to open, noted that increased contributions to insurance premiums are important to the GCTA this year.

“This is something that Mr. (Jeff) Gibboney and our bargaining team has discussed and will continue to discuss as we move to negotiations,” Brown said.

“In closing, I would like to thank you for all that you do for public education and once again ask everyone, from the community to the board to the administration to do all you can to support public education because our future generation is depending on us,” Brown said. “Thank you.”

“Well stated,” board President Ed Wilson said.

The collective bargaining period will open later in September.

During his own comments to the board, Supt. Gibboney referred back to Brown’s comments and how state-level politics have an effect on schools.

“As Erin was sharing earlier with the legislation, just a lot of things are happening this year,” Gibboney said. “We know we have an election, so we are looking at a new governor, it’s just a matter of who that new governor is going to be. And with a new governor comes a new secretary of education, so there’s a lot yet to be figured out with that.”

He addressed the recent controversy over proposed changes to diploma requirements in the state, with some observers worried that one of the proposals would leave many graduates not meeting the requirements to attend college.

Gibboney noted that another proposal appears to have addressed this. He encouraged community members to reach out to elected officials for their voices to be heard on the matter.

“There’s still a lot of changes being proposed with work-based learning, student internships, certainly some flexibility designed to help kids, but there’s a lot of fear of the unknowns so that’s what we’re really hoping gets worked out before the end of the year when things really become final,” Gibboney said. “If you have feelings one way or another, use your voice to speak out about it.”

In other business, the board:

• Formally approved the Tiger Cub Collective student-run business at Greencastle High School.

The business will be multi-faceted and cross-curricular, having been developed by fab lab director Jacob Hale, art teacher Dessa Frank and business teacher Kara Jedele.

While spirit wear, banners and other products will be designed and produced by students, others will also get into marketing the products and partnering with businesses and organizations in the community.

On Nov. 23, the organization plans the Greencastle Arts and Innovation Expo.

Hale would even like his students to partner with local industries on problems they may be facing and produce solutions that could ultimately be patented.

• Approved the outsourcing of custodial and maintenance services at the school corporation to Southeast Services for Education.

Gibboney emphasized that the transition included the retention of all former GCSC employees if they so chose.

“Everybody had the opportunity to move over, and that transition has already happened,” Gibboney said, noting that some resigned or retired.

“But it does not take away jobs in our community,” board member Jimmy Beasley said.

Gibboney said it does not. “They need a workforce. They’ve hired some of our staff and are looking for more.”

• Heard about the addition of another preschool class at Deer Meadow Primary. Gibboney said school officials learned a couple of days before preschool was to begin of the closure of First Baptist Preschool.

Principal Brittany Cooper and her staff worked to open an additional classroom to take on more students to give local families more options. Deer Meadow now has more than 100 preschool students.

“We know preschool is a huge need for families in our community,” Gibboney said. “We were able to staff it and do it, so we did it.”

Through the expansion, Deer Meadow is now able to offer full-day kindergarten. The matter was before the board for approval of the full-day rate.

Gibboney spoke of possibly expanding the program to Ridpath Primary, as well as raising the rating of the school so it can accept state preschool vouchers.

• Approved the purchase of new classroom furniture for Greencastle Middle School. The money will come from the general obligation bonds the school took on earlier this year.

• Approved a trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for the Greencastle High School Music Department for April 3-5 to take part in the Smoky Mountain Music Festival.

“They have worked hard to secure this trip and find a great opportunity for our kids to highlight their talents,” Gibboney said.

• Approved four athletic corporate sponsors: Hassler Trucking-$1,500, Epic Insurance-$1,500, York Chevrolet, Buick, GMC-$1,500 and McDonald’s $750.

• Accepted four donations: $3,000 from the Edward and Mary Ann Meyer Scholarship Fund within the Give Well Community Foundation to Greencastle High School; $500 from Robert and Mischa Harbison to GHS Athletics; $2,500 from POET Biorefining and Management to GMS; and $2,820 from Putnam County Hospital to GHS.

• Recognized August students of the month: GHS-Tristan Pridemore, GMS-Jaxson Cooksey, Tzouanakis-Brynlee Rowlings, Deer Meadow-Rosalee Messer and Ridpath-Kaleb Styers-Fleshman.

• Approved a number of personnel items.

Resignations: Fawn Helmer as GCSC school nurse, Alison Myers as GHS secretary, Adam Timcheck as Tzouanakis instructional assistant, Eric “Todd” Crawford as substitute bus driver,

Greg Ruark as GHS girls’ soccer coach.

New hires: Erykah Hobgood as GMS English teacher; Alexandria Wolff as Tzouanakis fifth-grade teacher; Megan Flory as Tzouanakis special services teacher; Julie Lanham as GHS life skills instructional assistant; Grace “Gibby” Tribbett and Nancy Knox as GHS instructional assistants; Shannon Ensor as GMS instructional assistant; Jase Beaman, Dian Sendmeyer, Adam Timcheck and Casey Buis as Tzouanakis instructional assistants; Lyndsey Bloomer and Waleska Toro as Deer Meadow instructional assistants; Lisa Taylor as Deer Meadow preschool facilitator.

Transfers: Hollie Fowler from Tzouanakis fifth-grade teacher to GMS math teacher; Wendi Evans from Tzouanakis special services teacher to GMS special services teacher.

Approvals: Yolanda Goodpaster as district safety specialist; Meredith Bee as homebound instruction services as academics teacher at Ridpath; Janet Kirby as homebody instruction services as speech language pathologist at Ridpath.

Leave of absence: Cory Hill as director of technology.

Substitutes: Eric “Todd”Crawford and Mark Dickerson as bus drivers; Christopher Dombrowski, Emily Neese, Brand Selvia, Gabrielle Reinoehl, Lillyanna Barnhart, Sidney Lantzey and Michael Thede as teachers.

Extracurricular activities: Jacob Hall approved as fab lab coordinator; Jane Roberson approved as GMS Math Bowl coach; Erin Brown and Richard McFadden approved as GMS drama performance sponsors; Katrina Evens approved as Tzouanakis Math Bowl coach; Alison Dobbs hired as GHS girls’ soccer coach; Scott Riggle, Holton Miller and Joel Hammond approved as GHS volunteer boys’ tennis coaches; Matthew Hamblet hired as GMS assistant football coach; Brian Waugh approved as GMS volunteer assistant football coach; Michael Sinowitz approved as GMS volunteer boys’ assistant soccer coach; Alex Swanson approved as GMS volunteer girls’ assistant soccer coach; James Spencer as GMS volunteer assistant volleyball coach and GMS volunteer assistant girls’ basketball coach.

Wilson and Beasley were joined for the meeting by board members Megan Inman and Kathryn Dory. Dale Pierce was absent.

The next meeting of the Greencastle School Board is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 at GCSC Central Office.