GCSC approves bus replacement plan

As progress continues on a new bus garage, the Greencastle School Board on Tuesday night approved a plan to put some new buses in the new building.

The board began by approving the bus replacement plan, then revisited the issue later by green-lighting the purchase of three new buses.

Approved was the purchase of a 24-passenger special needs bus as well as a pair of 84-passenger buses.

The small bus will have a chair lift and replace the current 24-passenger model that serves in the same capacity. The corporation will purchase the vehicle from IC Bus.

Transportation Coordinator Kyle Clearwaters reported that the 84-passenger models, to be purchased from Bluebird, are the biggest school buses available.

With the transportation department moving from its cramped quarters on North Vine Street to the new facility on Veterans Memorial Highway, board member Denise Sigworth got a laugh from Clearwaters with a question about the new buses.

“Kyle, do you think your new building has room for those buses?” Sigworth asked.

Clearwaters confirmed that there is, indeed, enough space.

In other business:

• The board approved three donations to school programs.

A classroom grant from the Putnam County Community Foundation will provide $500 worth of circuitry and robotics suplies to Greencastle Middle School.

The Football Parents Club made a $749.49 donation to the Greencastle High School football program.

The All Sports Booster Club made a donation of $4,000 to the GHS baseball program. The money will be set aside to be used for irrigation and drainage improvements for the baseball field.

• The board approved a number of personnel items.

Certified employees: Vickie Montgomery, hired as long-term substitute for Melissa Ams at Deer Meadow Primary; Megan Moore, hired as long-term substitute for Lara Inlow-Shields at Tzouanakis Intermediate.

Classified employees: Haley Trueblood, terminated as assistant lead custodian at McAnally Center; Tina Capps, resignation as GHS extra-curricular treasurer; Kelley Leonard, resignation as bus driver; Amanda Collier, resignation as McAnally second shift custodian; Melissa Maginity, leave of absence at Tzouanakis; Donna McFadden, approved as McAnally interim lead custodian; Kaylynn Rice, hired as GHS student cafeteria assistant; Marti Scott, hired as Deer Meadow noon aide; Drew Brothers, hired as Deer Meadow breakfast aide; Amanda Collier, hired as McAnally second shift custodian; Nancy Hagen, hired as Deer Meadow cafeteria assistant; Jacqueline Williams, hired as GHS cafeteria assistant; Denise Smedley, transferred to GHS extra-curricular treasurer (continue as central office personnel and benefits coordinator); Noah Kuchler, hired as McAnally second shift custodian.

Substitutes: Darla Taylor and Jennifer Hanks, hired as substitute teachers.

Extra-curricular activities: Kent Menzel, re-hired as GHS swim coach; Ian Pingleton, hired as GMS head wrestling coach; Annett Munos, approved as GHS volunteer boys’ assistant tennis coach; Chelseay Anderson, hired as assistant swim coach; Brian Hammett, transferred from seventh-grade boys’ basketball coach to eighth-grade boys’ basketball coach; Michael Scott, approved as eight grade assistant boys’ basketball coach; Maggie Walters, approved as girls’ varsity assistant basketball coach; Craig Whitaker, approved as volunteer assistant baseball coach; Justin Bartrum, hired as seventh-grade boys’ basketball coach; Denise Meyer, resignation as GMS assistant swim coach.