GCSC loses board member, prepares 1:1 launch, approves many new hires

The Greencastle Community School Board said goodbye to one of its members, honored outgoing retirees and announced that it has received 1,100 iPads for the 1:1 student technology program at its monthly meeting Monday night.

Board member Bill Tobin attended his last meeting as a board member Monday night.

Tobin joked with fellow board members throughout the evening and made a brief speech saying goodbye and outlining that in this two-and-a half years on the board, he'd learned a great deal.

"I learned a lot of new things but it proved what I already knew about K-12 education: it's the toughest gig around," he told the board after accepting a plaque for his role.

Tobin's replacement, Lisa Lazar, is expected to be sworn in at next month's board meeting.

The school board's student/teacher technology program, 1:1, is in its final stages as the school board has received physical shipment of the iPads and is currently outfitting the devices with the appropriate software and protective cases.

The devices will be deployed by the end of the first week of school. Greencastle High School students will receive their iPads on Aug 7 and Greencastle Middle School students will receive their devices on Aug. 8.

Students will only receive their iPads on those dates if they have completed the necessary paperwork.

Although the devices will enable students and teachers to interact and learn using modern approaches, Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Hubble assured attendees that the devices will be supplemental to existing text books and methods.

"We are not abandoning print text," Hubble informed the crowd.

Hubble also highlighted the new "1:1 Technology" tab on GCSC's website that provides students, family and faculty with frequently asked questions and troubleshooting tips.

Informational parental meetings have been scheduled for the following days:

* 10 a.m., Monday, July 21.

* 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 22.

* 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23

* 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24.

Hubble explained that he tried to avoid scheduling this event during the week of the Putnam County Fair but since it was unavoidable, has provided additional meeting times to accommodate busy schedules at that time.

The school board honored retiring staff members and thanked them for their commitment. Cathy McCall and Linda Nelson were present at the board meeting to express their gratitude and receive plaques from Superintendent Dawn Puckett for the 10 and 23 years of service given to GCSC respectively.

Nelson will celebrate her last day with GCSC on her 75th birthday and when asked to say a few words she joked, "there's no way I could say a few words," emphasizing that her experience could not be summed up briefly.

Puckett spoke kindly of the retirees and when presenting McCall with a plaque made reference to McCall's big smile.

"We're gonna miss her contagious smile," Puckett said.

The other retirees include Shirley Brackney after 24 years with GCSC and LaVonne Dodson with 13 years at GCSC, though they were unable to attend Monday's meeting.

The school board approved the request to raise the price of student breakfast and lunch costs by 10 cents next year. A majority of this increase is based on the rise in milk cost, the largest single-year jump in the cost of milk that food service director Nelson has seen in her 23 years. The cost of milk will go up nearly eight cents per carton, with the additional two cents of the increase going to offset other rising food prices.

As part of the discussion of the rising milk costs, the board approved separate bids for various food service providers including milk services, bread services, general food service and grocery service.

Together these services provide the food service department with the raw foods necessary to meet FDA standards when creating school lunches.

The board approved the hiring of 61 new staff members for the 2014-15 school year including faculty members and coaches for Greencastle High School and Tzouanakis.

In the athletic departments the board approved Matt Plessinger as assistant football coach at Greencastle Middle School, Kevin Rowe as varsity boys' and varsity girls' tennis coach at Greencastle High school, Cody Watson as head varsity boys' soccer coach at GHS, Lori Shuck as volunteer competition cheer coach for GHS and Rob York as volunteer varsity basketball assistant at GHS.

At Tzouanakis, multiple new hires were approved. Carrie Hamilton was hired as club sponsor, Wendi Evans as intramural activities coach and spell bowl coach; Karen Hirt as math bowl coach, Jennifer Miller as math bowl coach, Autumn Ramsey as spell bowl coach, Brad Phillips as intramural activities coach and Gina Ames as science bowl coach.

Additionally Wendi Evans will transfer from special education teacher at Tzouanakis to special education teacher at GHS.

The board also approved many certified new hires for Greencastle High School. Tabatha Briones was hired as math teacher, Valerie Nees as family and consumer sciences teacher; Amy Berry as French club sponsor, Diana Divine as pep club sponsor and junior class sponsor; Lisa Duggan as SPED dept. chair, Candy Fiscus as key club sponsor and prom committee member; John Garner as FCA sponsor and science sclub sponsor; Robert Hedge as band director and stage director/sets/lights; Glenn Hile as senior class sponsor, social studies dept. chair and social studies academic super bowl coach; Lori Hile as freshman class sponsor and English dept. chair; Barb Jessie as best buddies sponsor and knitting club sponsor; Robin Johnson as art club sponsor and academic superbowl art coach; Nicole Kempf as Latin club sponsor and academic superbowl coach; Brad Key as sophomore class sponsor, Deborah Lambert as choral director and drama music director; Pam Bacon as book club sponsor, Brenda Meyer as ambassador sponsor, Khristen Phillips as chemistry club sponsor, Kelsey Pomeroy as FBI sponsor and publications sponsor; Jennifer Zigler as national honor society sponsor at GHS, Meredith Wade as Spanish club sponsor at GHS, Amanda Standers as Best Buddies sponsor at GHS and Beth Bax as thespian club sponsor and play/musical director at GHS.

Elisabeth Lucas was approved as special education teacher at Greencastle Middle School.

Several resignations were approved by the board, including Schantell Wharton as special education teacher at GHS, Kim Yocum as fifth-grade teacher at Tzouanakis Intermediate, Debra Sabin as cafeteria assistant at GMS, Kristie Miller as cafeteria assistant at Deer Meadow, Kyle Everts as mechanic, Shyla Herald as bookstore worker and Logan Kuhne as head wrestling coach at GHS.

In other business:

* The board approved changes in several employee handbooks including those used for bus drivers, classified employees and salaried non-certified employees.

* The board approved a bid in the amount of $6,418 for heating and cooling units for the new outbuilding at Greencastle High School.

* The board approved increasing the cost of pre-school services from $5 to $6 per day. The increase will not affect those with special needs and according to the board, will still be significantly cheaper than private pre-school options.

* The board approved to accept several donations including $4,060 from Greencastle Middle School PTO; $4,000 from Pathways to Financial Success; $850 toward the eighth-grade field trip ECA fund from Greencastle Middle School PTO and $1,500 from Balfour to the GHS character education ECA fund.

* The board presented a first reading of an updated NEOLA policy. The policy was in need of updating to comply with recent legislation that allows certified firearm owners with the proper permits store a firearm in their vehicle while on a school parking lot. The board revised this policy so that it was in accordance with the law.

* The board discussed progress with the various construction projects taking place this summer: the Tzouanakis parking lot project should begin this week; the new roof project for McAnally has not yet started; the cafeteria expansion at GHS has already begun and a structure to be built behind the GHS is awaiting state approval.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 21 at 7 p.m. and will take place at Ridpath Elementary School.