While other schools lost students, GCSC grew

Thursday, October 11, 2007

The Greencastle school district grew by 28 students from last year, and that could mean more state education funds.

Supt. Robert Green said the growth in the average daily membership came mostly at the middle school and high school level. The ADM number was set at 1,962. However, kindergarten students are counted as only one-half membership, even though they may attend all day. Adding those pupils back into the count takes the number of enrolled students to 2,033 for the district.

Green said 12 of the 28 students were due to cash transfers from other school districts. The other 16 are new students.

The state bases its education funding, in part, on enrollment numbers, and a decline in students can mean a decline in funds, while showing growth can mean an increase. Green said it is uncertain at this time how this year's enrollment growth will affect that funding, since the funding formula can change.

Meanwhile, Green expressed concern about some state financial deadlines that have not been met by county officials.

The state has been putting pressure on the county auditor and assessor to get the financial figures updated, at the threat of a hold-up in funding disbursements.

Green said he is worried about the fall tax draw being on time, since a delay can mean a cash flow crunch that will lead to a temporary loan by the school district.

Last year, the school district spent $90,000 in interest for temporary loans due to the delays in funding disbursements, he said.

"If the tax bills are delayed," Green said, "that means draws are delayed, and that means a loan with interest, and more burden on the taxpayer."

In other business, the board:

* Heard a report by Dawn Puckett and the building principals on results of the first district goal assessment to assess students in math and language arts. Future assessments will assess student learning during the school year.

* Granted permission to advertise for school bus bids for delivery in summer 2008 according to the current 10-year bus replacement plan.

* Set the date for the 2008 Greencastle High School Commencement as 7 p.m. Friday, May 23 in McAnally Center gymnasium. Green noted that if there is snow day occurring before Presidents' Day, the students will go to school on Presidents' Day to meet the state attendance requirements.

* Approved an out-of-state field trip for the marine biology class to travel to Florida from Feb. 19-24.

* Approved an overnight field trip by the middle school student council to attend a leadership conference in Bloomington from Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

* Approved an overnight field trip by the high school student council to attend the state student council convention at Loogootee High School from Nov. 10-11.

* Accepted a donation of $1,200 from International Automotive Components in support of the high school attendance program.

* Approved a donation of $750 for Balfour, the supplier of class rings and graduation announcements at the high school, in support of the high school attendance program.

* Accepted a donation of $3,000 from the middle school PTO to be used for field trips and other special activities.

* Approved revisions, deletions and new policies for the school district on administration, staff and operations.

In personnel matters, the board approved:

* Kenneth Mitchell's resignation due to retirement as high school social studies teacher effective Aug. 1, 2008.

* Jill Gooch's maternity leave from Jan. 25-May 27, 2008.

* Rosie O'Neal's resignation due to retirement effective Jan. 28, 2008.

* Michael Glenn's resignation as instructional assistant at GMS.

* Hiring Jennifer Owens-Cripe as temporary part-time counselor at Deer Meadow until the end of the semester.

* Hiring Caroline James as instructional assistant for special education at GMS.

* Hiring Vicky Petrey as bus monitor for the special education bus route.

* Hiring Robert Bishop as 12-month custodian at Tzouanakis School.

* Transferring Carlos Hawkins from substitute bus driver to regular bus driver.

* Diane Pierce, Terri Collins and Sharon Hoskins as website developers.

* Lynn Fenwick's resignation as assistant cheerleader sponsor at the high school. Lindsay Fisher was approved for that position.

* Michael Coons' re-approval as middle school boys seventh grade basketball lay coach.

* Bill Earl's re-approval as eighth grade basketball lay coach.

* Luke Beasley as high school head girls swim lay coach.

* Michael Bostic as high school head diving lay coach.

* Kristy Crain as high school assistant softball lay coach.

* Robert Whitlow and Laura McMaster as high school assistant girls track lay coach.

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