Auditorium name change will honor Parker
A new name will be given to the auditorium in McAnally Center to honor a retiring teacher who has put years of hard work into the stage productions for Greencastle High School.
That honor will be given to Vickie Parker, who will retire at the end of the current school year after 24 years with GHS.
Supt. Robert Green made that recommendation to Greencastle School Board members Mark Kannowski, Barry Fisher, Mike Dean, Barbara Bryan and Jack Berry during their monthly meeting Wednesday.
And they unanimously agreed with the recommendation.
"I don't think there's anyone out there who's put more into that building," board president Dean said, noting that he was one of Parker's students, and he was hoping his children would have the opportunity to learn from her as well.
The honor brought tears to Parker, who did not know that the issue was to be voted on Wednesday.
"I'm humbled, to say the least," Parker said. "It's ironic. The very first show I ever directed was on that stage for the Putnam County Playhouse."
The most recent production on the stage, "High School Musical", was also the largest production ever for her on the GHS stage with 127 students involved. It was also one of the most popular shows presented.
Supt. Green noted that the corporation policy is that a facility cannot be named for an active employee. However, Parker will be retiring at the end of the current school year. Her resignation due to retirement was approved among the personnel items handled near the close of the meeting.
In other business, the board:
* Agreed to purchase a new wheelchair bus for $76,000, a 14-passenger activity bus for $43,350, as well as two 84-passenger school buses for $89,127 each, minus trade-in credits on two older buses.
* Heard a presentation on a pandemic flu plan to be added to the school district crisis plan. The board will vote on approval at its January meeting.
* Granted approval for end-of-the-year fund transfers to make sure all accounts finish the year with a positive balance. The board also approved a resolution to advertise to borrow funds for 2008 if it becomes necessary. Green said with the uncertainty of school funding, he wants to be prepared to borrow if the ned arises.
* A donation of $2,400 from the Deer Meadow PTO to be used for teacher classroom supplies.
* Learned that the corn boiler at the high school was tested recently and the results have not been reported. Green said as soon as the state gives the "green light" for use of the boiler, it will be used on a regular basis to offset heating costs.