GCSC announces superintendent selection process, timetable

A schedule for the selection of a new superintendent, to succeed Dawn Puckett, was approved Monday during Greencastle School's monthly public session.

Puckett, who will maintain her current role as superintendent until Aug. 31 to help with the start of the upcoming school year, spent nearly 30 years as an educator, including the past four years as GCSC superintendent.

Board President Denise Sigworth, who was recently reappointed by the Greencastle City Council, said the board does not consist of "educators" and has therefore sought the help of just that -- an educational consultant.

"The board has hired the Indianapolis School Board Association (ISBA) to advise us in this project," Sigworth said. "They have met with us, assisted us in putting together the application form -- going through to determine job descriptions and things that we're wanting in the role of superintendent -- and we have sent out emails to staff and had a listening session inviting them in to tell us what the corporation would like to see for the position once Mrs. Puckett retires.

"With all of that gathered, we've put together an application packet (that is available) through a link on the front of our website (www.greencastle.k12.in.us) and with the Department of Education (www.doe.in.gov)," Sigworth continued. "The application closes on July 1 at 4:30 p.m. -- that is, the application has to be in the ISBA office at that time."

First-round interviews are scheduled to be held the week of July 13, at which time the board hopes to operate a contract for a new superintendent to start by Sept. 4.

"ISBA has done a great job of guiding us and they will initially look at our applications," Sigworth said. "They are the educating body -- we are not educators, that's why we've called them in to help us through this process and guide us through those technical things that we're not specialists on."

Sigworth then added that the July 1 appointment of Bill Tobin will play a part in the selection process. Tobin, who was recently appointed to the Greencastle school board by Greencastle Township Trustee Steve Butts and his advisory board, served on the council from February of 2012 to June of 2014 and will now fill the newly-vacant seat of four-year member Gary Haussin.

Tobin, who was not present for the meeting Monday, will be sworn-in in a rather unique fashion considering the search for a superintendent.

"I will add that, with (Haussin) going off the board and with (Tobin) coming on the board," Sigworth said. "his appointment will begin July 1.

"Generally, we'd swear in the new board member at our July meeting (set for July 18), but because he'll be involved in this process and go through applications with us, (Tobin) will be sworn into the central office at the beginning of July so we can have him as a true, sworn-in member of this process."

Those interested in applying for the position of superintendent can visit the aforementioned websites and/or call the district's administration offices at 653-9771.

In other business:

* The board began proceedings Monday by expressing gratitude (through kind words and the presentation of individual plaques) to three retirees who total more than 90 years of service. They were: Shana Faust (32 years), Glenn Hile (37 years) and Joanie Earl (23 years).

* Megan Ward was introduced to the council. Ward was recently hired as a guidance counselor for Ridpath Primary and Deer Meadow Primary.

* Under old business, the second reading of a policy concerning criminal gangs and criminal gang activity was approved -- this included the reporting of such activity by staff.

* Under new business, NEOLA Policy 6111 was approved upon first and second readings Monday (the first waived unanimously by the board). This policy concerns the threshold at which funds and deposits need to be reported to a governing body. The current threshold set for GCSC is $500. Also as part of this policy, staff are now required to receive training in fund-reporting.

* The addition of a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for elementary staff was approved. Puckett explained that support is now being sought via a CNA for more routine procedures so that the main nurse can be available for more emergency-related issues. Those interested in applying for the position can contact the school's administration offices at 653-9771.

* The continuation of the Night School Program was discussed and approved. So far, through the night-schooling system, a total of 28 credits were saved, allowing seven students to graduate when it would have been otherwise impossible.

* Bleachers on school grounds were discussed. Puckett reported that any bleachers set around athletic fields must be ADA-compliant (the American Disabilities Act), i.e. wheel-chair ramps. The board expressed hopes that the changes will be complete by the end of summer in time for the fall sports season. "Essentially an emergency need," the visitors side of the football field will be completely replaced while the home-side of the field will be modified.

* A chilling system to be installed at Greencastle Middle School throughout the summer months was discussed. Also to be reimbursed by Bond 2016 will be updates to the high school's McAnally Center. The board hopes the improvements will result in a "much more workable temperature" for spectators.

* Freshman Mika Mozawa, who hails originally from Japan, was approved for graduation in 2018 instead of her formerly-scheduled graduate date of 2019. With the support and help of staff, Mozawa has devised a plan that would allow her to complete her required courses and graduate before her visa expires. The motion was unanimously approved.

* The continuation of contracts with Cornerstone Pediatric Rehabilition, Inc. (physical therapy) and Interactive School Therapy, LLC. (speech pathology) were approved.

* A donation of $2,075 from the middle school's PTO organization was approved for use in the middle school's art department.

* Several items of no value were declared and approved. These include art tables, now that the art department has received the ability to replace the aging tables.

* An additional instructional assistant for summer school was approved. Miss Megan Bartels was subsequently approved for hire.

* Three handbooks were approved. They included minor adjustments for employees (both hourly and salary) and bus drivers.

* An increase in the price of lunch was reluctantly approved by the board after notice from the state of Indiana and United States Department of Agriculture.

The price for lunch at Greencastle High School and Greencastle Middle School is now $2.90 and the price of lunch at the elementary schools is now $2.80. Each rose just 12 cents from their previous prices, as mandated by government agencies.

* The school's Summer Feeding Program was updated by Food Services Director Debbie Carrico. Carrico reported that hundreds have received free meals this summer at several locations: Ridpath Primary, 1,033 children and 93 adults (adults can purchase lunch for $2); Greencastle High School, 871 children and 85 adults; Dear Meadow Primary, 1,117 children and 59 adults; and the Mobile Foot Cart, 571 children and 73 adults.

* Puckett gave her monthly superintendent's report, which include many summer activities: 23 teachers participated in professional learning activities through a grant that DePauw University helped acquire; the final week of summer school has come; several members of staff are attending the National NWA Conference in Indianapolis; Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Hubble and another employee will be leaving this week to attend the International Society for Technology in Education conference in Denver, Colo.; on June 29 at 11 a.m. a project hearing for the public to discuss projects bond-financing options which would allow the district to purchase the land and build a transportation center will be hosted at the district's administration offices (located at 1002 Mill Pond Ln.); bus inspections are scheduled for June 30; moritorium week will be the week of July 4; Camp Invention will be held at Dear Meadow Primary for grades 1-6 from July 11-15; online registration opens July 13 -- applications for transfer students are also being accepted through July 31; and board member Dale Pierce recently acquired (for "two-thirds" of the original budget) a personally-designed and hand-crafted walnut table through connections with the Amish community in Rockville.

* Several hirings, transfers and retirements were approved Monday: Dawn Puckett, retirement as superintendent (effective Aug. 31); Suzanne Frank, resignation as seventh-grade language arts teacher at GMS (effective June 3); Lucas Pittman resignation as special education teacher at GMS (effective end of 2015-16 school year); Christy Williams, resignation as instructional assistant at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective May 25); Barbara Myers, resignation as cafeteria assistant at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective June 6); Margo Hertenstein, approved for unpaid leave of absence at Deer Meadow Primary (effective Jan. 10-Feb. 7, 2017); Debbie Lambert, hire as choir teacher at GHS (effective Aug. 4); Kieran Clapp, transfer from second-grade teacher at Ridpath Primary to third-grade teacher at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective Aug. 4); Elizabeth D'Amore, hire as fourth-grade special education teacher at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective Aug. 4); Cassidy Holt, hire as eighth-grade language arts teacher at GMS (effective Aug. 4, pending licensure); Eric Gilpatrick, hire as seventh-grade science teacher at GMS (effective Aug. 4, pending licensure); Andrea Stout, hire as seventh-grade language arts teacher at GMS (effective Aug. 4, pending licensure); Bryce Rector, hire as mathematics teacher at GHS (effective Aug. 4); Brian Hammett, hire as eight-grade math teacher at GMS (effective Aug. 4, pending background check); Megan Ward, hire as guidance counselor at Ridpath Primary and Deer Meadow Primary (effective July 28, pending background check); Jennifer Beck, reduction of hours and salary from five days a week to four days a week (effective July 7); Roy Hendershot, hire as third-shift custodian at GMS (effective May 19); Tina Capps, transfer from secretary at GHS to ECA treasurer and bookstore manager at GHS (effective May 31); Cindy Akers, hire as third-shift custodian at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective June 13); Patricia Hamilton, hire as secretary at Deer Meadow Primary (effective July 21); Makenzie Wilson, hire as substitute teacher (effective immediately); Michael Richardson, hire as assistant football coach at GHS (effective 2016-17 school year); Alicia Cupp, approved as special education department chair at GMS (effective immediately); Bryce Rector, hire as head boys' basketball coach at GHS (effective immediately); Ben Wells, transfer from assistant baeball coach at GHS to varsity head baseball coach at GHS (effective immediately); Annie Weltz, hire as seventh and eighth grade volleyball coach at GMS (effective 2016-17 school year); Stephanie Baker-Watson, hire as seventh and eighth grade volleyball coach at GMS (effective 2016-17 school year, pending background check); Kathryn Dory, approved as Tri-M Club sponsor at GMS (effective immediately); J.D. Sims, hire as head boys' soccer coach at GHS (effective 2016-17 school year); and Kevin Rowe, hire head boys' tennis coach at GHS (effective 2016-17 school year).