GCSC board approves curriculum changes

The Greencastle School Board approved a pair of proposals at its September meeting that will mean greater opportunity for writing and sciences students at Greencastle High School.

A new creative writing course and a physics textbook that will better prepare students for an Advanced Placement (AP) class were both given a green light at Wednesday's meeting.

Creative writing, instructed by new teacher Kodie Burroughs, was borne of necessity to fill out a number of students' schedules at the beginning of the school year.

It has quickly become, however, an extremely popular class, with 24 students enrolled.

"It's been very popular," GHS Principal Jennifer Shepherd said. "I think the kids are enjoying it."

The principal added that demand may lead the guidance department to cap the number of students able to take the class in second semester.

The change of physics textbooks is a matter of long-range planning, as the board previously approved an AP Physics course was previously approved by the board.

Although AP Physics is not available to students this year, a switch to a physics book published by Holt will better prepare them for AP next year. The Holt book is more math-oriented, while the old text was more conceptually-driven.

In other news:

* Superintendent Dr. Lori Richmond reported the number of students enrolled with GCSC is down this year.

The good news came in that the corporation has 84 students transferring into the district, a jump of 11 from last year.

However, the drop in number will be reflected in general fund money from the state.

"No matter how many students we have or don't' have, our job remains the same -- to give them a quality education," Richmond said.

The official count day was on Friday, but the numbers were not available at press time.

* The board approved 39 personnel items.

Hires: Michael Stephens as GHS math teacher; Jennie Pryce at Tzouanakis special education teacher; Tiffany Grabinski as maternity leave teacher at Tzouanakis; Kaitlin Richmond as part-time GHS biology/science teacher; Dianna Callahan as part-time student data coordinator; Cody White as GHS cafeteria assistant student worker; Nicole Bartels and Hannah Mitchell as Tzouanakis instructional aides; Teona Byrd as Deer Meadow noon aide; Brittany Welker as lifeguard student worker; Cheryl Phillips as Deer Meadow cafeteria assistant; and Pamalee Smith as GHS library assistant.

Transfers: Candice Pelfrey from substitute bus driver to fulltime bus driver and Jennifer Heithaus from Ridpath to Tzouanakis instructional assistant.

Resignations: Jessica Tarr as Tzouanakis instructional assistant and Pam Mishler as Deer Meadow cafeteria manager.

Substitute teacher hires: Danielle Knoblett, Elizabeth Evans, Jessica Watson, Hillary Davies, Leslie Miller, Anna Musser and Kyler Faust.

Extra-curricular activities: Elizabeth Spencer, resignation as varsity volleyball coach; Millie Brabham, resignation as junior varsity volleyball coach and assistant varsity coach; Trish Lowe, hire as varsity volleyball coach, Tzouanakis Saturday basketball position and Tzouanakis intramural activities position; John Downing, approve as volunteer assistant volleyball coach; Braden Amis, hire as assistant varsity volleyball coach; Julia Stevens, hire as Tzouanakis honor council position; Wendi Haltom, hire as Tzouanakis assistant intramural activities position; Michael Chadd, approve as volunteer junior varsity girls' basketball coach; Matthew Welker, hire as junior varsity girls' basketball coach; Doug Hudson, hire as assistant boys' varsity and junior varsity coach; Bryan Gerard and Rob York, approve as volunteer assistant boys' basketball coaches; Jason Foxx, hire as freshman boys' basketball coach; and Bruce Cook, approve as volunteer assistant girls' basketball coach.