GCSC moving forward with plans for school resource officer program

Recent threats to local school safety, unfounded though they may have been, are ratcheting up calls for increased security measures in Greencastle Schools.

On Monday, a parent addressed the Greencastle School Board during its regular monthly meeting, asking what the plans might be for resource officers in the schools and on what timetable.

Board President Ed Wilson said those discussions are ongoing.

“We are working hard on that,” Wilson assured. “We are working in collaboration with the mayor’s office on some discussions of that now. We have been for many years, and it’s getting even hotter now.”

The other three county schools have previously added SROs to their schools, with North Putnam partnering with Bainbridge Police Department, Cloverdale Schools with Cloverdale PD and South Putnam with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

Putnam County Hospital has even added a hospital resource officer in collaboration with the sheriff.

With the City of Greencastle home to the largest municipal police force in the county as well as the headquarters of PCSO, the five GCSC school buildings have always been a bit less isolated from a police presence than the county’s more rural schools.

And while no formal SRO agreement has been in place, the Greencastle Police Department has long prioritized having a presence in the schools. Wilson, who is also the GPD assistant chief, noted he is “in the schools every day.”

Still, leaders seem to agree that the time has come for a more formal SRO arrangement.

Supt. Jeff Gibboney noted that talks have been occurring with both Greencastle Mayor Lynda Dunbar and Putnam County Sheriff Jerrod Baugh regarding SRO options.

“We are organizing to look at what exactly it will look like, what steps, costs, duties and responsibilities, the full package, to bring school resource officers to Greencastle,” Gibboney said. “I will bring before the board a recommendation in the coming months so we can move forward with that.”

In other local arrangements, the schools have helped to pay the salary of the officers, though they are considered employees of the sponsoring police agencies.

GCSC took strides in improving the security of all five school buildings in recent years, with entrance upgrades at each school a sizable part of the recently-completed building project.

Gibboney later noted that GCSC recently received a grant of $80,868.38 from the state to assist with replacing all doors on the east entrance of McAnally Center with more secure models.

The corporation is paying the remainder of the $1,999,000 project with Delaware Glass.

While he was on the subject of safety, Gibboney also noted that GCSC will play host to a discussion of digital empowerment for parents on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

Conducted in conjunction with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, “Digital Empowerment for Parents” is open to parents from all county schools. Students should not attend.

The speaker will be Capt. Scott Frank, a retired inspector and internet safety expert, who will discuss empowering children to make safe and healthy online choices.

The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. in The Hub at Greencastle High School unless there is enough interest to move it to a larger location.

In other business:

• Asst. Supt. Becky McPherson brought attention to a recent installation ceremony for the new JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) program at Greencastle Middle School. Nearly 100 family members were in attendance, and all but three of the students attended.

“It was an amazing evening for our students and families,” McPherson said. “I’m really excited about this program and what it’s going to do for our kids.”

• GHS Principal Yolanda Goodpaster gave a brief presentation on the availability of student activities at the various school buildings, noting that while Deer Meadow and Ridpath primary schools each have one activity, the opportunities expand for older students — to 12 at Tzouanakis Intermediate, eight at Greencastle Middle School and 55 at Greencastle High School.

Goodpaster noted that it goes beyond simple access to activities.

“Our goal, ultimately, is to see correlation between student grades and how active they are in these activities, seeing how our activities can impact our community and finding needs within our community,” Goodpaster said. “We know that if we have kids that are happy, they are willing and able to do anything within the school. We also know if we have good facilities, our kids feel very welcome and active within their school.”

• Gibboney noted that the fall count day for students is Tuesday, Oct. 1, saying that so far, enrollment is up “significantly” from last spring and fall.

Based on the State of Indiana funding formula for schools, more students means more revenue.

• The board approved a memorandum of understanding with Student Thrive that will make roughly $2,000 available to each school for items such as gym shoes or articles of clothing for students and families that might not be able to afford it otherwise. Gibboney called it a specific way to make purchases and give the items to students with their parents’ permission.

“Make sure all of our kids are taken care of for all of their needs and necessities,” Gibboney said. “There shouldn’t be an activity they’re not able to take part in, and it’s just a very nice thing.

• The board also agreed to a leased employee agreement with Putnam County Hospital for nurses in the school.

While the two entities were already working together, Gibboney noted that the arrangement expands access to telehealth services as well as ensuring that each building is staffed with a nurse for the full 37.5 hours of a school week.

• The board honored September Students of the Month: GHS — Marissa Scheibe, GMS — Juangerardo Martinez, Tzouanakis — Silas Glessner, Deer Meadow — Reese Goodpaster and Ridpath — Christian Barnett.

• The board accepted donations of $2,075 from the Greencastle Middle School PTO to GMS, $550 from the Mary Allison Children’s Trust to Deer Meadow, $500 from Bethel Baptist Church to Deer Meadow and $52,500 from the Putnam County Community Foundation to the school corporation, as well as Putnam Seed Service as a $750 athletic sponsor for the 2024-25 season.

• The board approved the following personnel items:

Resignations: GHS instructional assistant Nancy Knox, Tzouanakis instructional assistant Amanda Highsmith, bus driver Linda Floyd, substitute bus driver Casey Rossok.

Hires: Homebound instruction services teacher Dana Carr, Tzouanakis instructional assistants Trinity Bean and Regina Wilson, Deer Meadow speech aid Robin Barber, GHS secretary Madison Dixon.

Transfer: Donnie Watson from substitute bus driver to bus driver.

Substitute hires: Long-term first-grade substitute Deborah McKee; substitute teachers Kaija Carr, Debra Smith, Joshua Hammond and Colleen McDonald; substitute bus driver Regina Wilson.

Extracurricular activities: Shelby Aguirre resignation as Tzouanakis Spell Bowl coach, Robert hedge resignation as GHS stage director, Amie Bailey hired as GHS stage director, Jessi Koosman approved as GMS English academic bowl coach, Jennifer Mann and Megan Miller approved as Tzouanakis Spell Bowl coaches, Julia Stevens approved as Tzouanakis cross country coach, Brianna Shafer approved as Tzouanakis Spanish club sponsor, Emily Dickey approved as Tzouanakis game club sponsor, Brad Phillips and Carmen Coons approved as fall intramurals and spring intramurals co-sponsors, Tanner Wood hired as GHS assistant football coach, Jackson Buis approved as GHS volunteer assistant football coach, Nicole Watson hired as GHS assistant cheer coach, Craig Whitaker hired as GHS assistant baseball coach, David Duggan approved as GHS volunteer assistant baseball coach, Hanna Dawson hired as GHS girls’ assistant varsity basketball coach, Brandon Rush approved as GHS volunteer boys’ assistant soccer coach, Jake Miller hired as GMS assistant football coach.

Wilson was joined by fellow members Megan Inman, Kathryn Dory and Jimmy Beasley. Dale Pierce was absent. The next meeting of the Greencastle School Board is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 at GCSC Central Office.