GCSC board approves new programs

A number of summertime opportunities were approved Wednesday during a monthly meeting at the GCSC administration office.

Summer school, jump start programs and even a credit recovery program will now be offered with each including transportation and daily food services.

Summer school programs for elementary students were approved to be held at Deer Meadow Primary, located at 1000 Meadow Dr.; daily breakfasts and lunches will be served.

The high school also received approval for its summer school program, set to run from May 31 through June 27 at Greencastle High School, located at 910 E. Washington St. with food services available in the month of June.

This year's KIDS Program was also approved. This focuses on children who are at or near a state of homelessness.

"We work with them during the summer," Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Hubble said. "This has been a consistent program we've provided over the past several years ... it (also) helps provide activities for kids who might not have the anything to do during the summer."

The KIDS Program will be housed at Ridpath Primary, located at 711 Central Ave.

A "Freshman Jump Start Program" will also be offered through the months of June and July for eighth-grade students to become familiar with the ways of high school before entering as freshman next fall. Times for these classes will be offered at 7:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. on weekdays at the high school.

Finally for students, a program titled Credit Recovery will be offered at the high school for graduating students who need to make up classwork and gain eligible status when applying for college. This will also be offered on weekdays at the high school.

Ivy Tech's "Memorandum of Understanding" was read aloud and discussed by members of the board, citing Greencastle High School's College Readiness Center.

"This will be the second year the high school has been in partnership with Ivy Tech," Hubble said. "This year we have 19 students who feel they could benefit from this program as they hope to get better-prepared for college."

Permission to hire four summer bus cleaners and three summer painters was given after a request was made by Hubble. Those interested may apply during regular business hours at the GCSC administration office, located at 1002 Mill Pond Ln.

Summer speech services will be offered throughout the month of July. This will consist of "extended school year services for students in need of speech and language services." Transportation will also be available for this course. For more information, visit greencastle.k12.in.us.

In other developments:

* A bid concerning commodity and commercial paper products for the 2016-17 school year was approved. West Indy Cooperative will again be the school's provider of various products.

* The meeting time for April's public session was discussed and altered slightly -- it will now take place on April 20 at 7 p.m. at the corporation's administration offices.

* The installation of multiple devices at the administration offices, including microphones, projectors and televisions, were approved and will be installed prior to the April meeting.

* Several hirings, transfers and resignations were approved: Glenn Hile, retirement as government and economics teacher at GHS (effective May 31); Shana Faust, retirement as third-grade teacher at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective May 28); Amy Piskoty, resignation as assistant principal at GMS (effective June 10); Gwen Morris, hire as temporary guidance counselor for Megan Smith (maternity leave) at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective March 31 through May 26); Vicky Petrey, resignation as part-time custodian at GMS, Leslie Brock-Sims, resignation as ESL instructional assistant at Tzouanakis Intermediate; Lucas Moore, resignation as custodian at GMS; Samantha Call, FMLA approval at GHS (effective Feb. 9 through March 22); Alisha McCollough, transfer from instructional assistant at Deer Meadow Primary/Ridpath Primary to preschool instructional assistant at Deer Meadow Primary; Kasey Elam, approval to add a breakfast aide position and noon aide position at Deer Meadow Primary; Ashley Downing, hire as intructional assistant at Deer Meadow Primary; Jamie Burks, hire as part-time custodian at GMS; Angie Miles, transfer as substitute cafeteria assistant to cafeteria assistant at Ridpath Primary; Jayne Ann Hill, hire as substitute athletic secretary at GHS for Samantha Call (maternity leave); Susan Garl, transfer from substitute cafeteria assistant to full-time substitute cafeteria assistant at Tzouanakis Intermediate; Kara Jedele, hire as substitute teacher; Christopher Nelson, hire as substitute teacher; Pam Sidebottom, hire as substitute teacher; Melanie Cope, hire as substitute teacher; Emma Duncan, hire as substitute teacher; Emily Beckman, hire as substitute teacher; Katherine Bender, hire as substitute teacher; Molly Henderson, hire as substitute teacher; Rebecca Johnson, hire as substitute teacher; Faith Fear, hire as substitute teacher; Melissa Turner, hire as substitute teacher; Tonya Welker, hire as girls' head track coach at GMS; Michael Scott, hire as boys' head track coach at GMS; Erin Sprinkle, hire as boys' assistant track coach at GMS; and Joy Pershing, hire as girls' assistant track coach at GMS.