Unique ‘fab lab’ partnership sought between GCSC, city RDC

Monday, February 1, 2021

An enterprising effort that could ultimately benefit Greencastle Schools, the city of Greencastle and local industry has been endorsed by the Greencastle Redevelopment Commission.

The commission voted unanimously Wednesday to move forward with a proposal to fund a $197,500 project that would help create a fabrication laboratory -- or as it’s more commonly know, a fab lab -- at Greencastle Middle School.

Theoretically the skills students would learn could provide a ready-made workforce for the Greencastle industrial community, helping to keep trained residents in the local community, while also possibly attracting families to the area so that their children might take advantage of the fab lab effort.

Greencastle School Superintendent Jeff Gibboney, Assistant Superintendent Jenny French and Technology Director C.J. Shields were at City Hall to meet via Zoom with the RDC, detailing the digital fab lab idea and the proposed partnership between the school corporation and city.

Gibboney called it “a 21st-century wood shop” but with routers and laser cutters and other devices providing “the many tools students would use in advancing a manufacturing career or other careers.”

Exposure earlier in their careers at the middle school would better serve the students for the future than waiting until they got to the Area 30 Career Center, he said.

“Exposing these skills to students early can spark a passion or interest,” Gibboney said.

The GCSC superintendent called it “an opportunity to build and expand on what is already being done.”

“There is no script for it,” he said. “Not every student is going to build a birdhouse (like they might do in shop).”

Long term, he envisioned, the community could see eventually see a partnership with local businesses.

Gibboney said a similar program was started at his previous school corporation in Bloomfield.

He called the venture “a unique opportunity to put Greencastle Schools on the regional map,” adding that he sees “a great opportunity to start in the middle school with the next phase to continue on in the high school.”

And hopefully the partnership could “help generate the future workforce in our community.”

Gibboney would like to move forward on the project this summer in order to have it in place for the next school year.

City Councilman Dave Murray, attending the meeting at City Hall, asked to what extent the schools have been in contact with local industry.

“Covid has slowed the ability to get out and meet with local industry,” Gibboney reasoned.

He said the goal will be to bring industry leaders into the digital fab lab, noting that interaction of students in the lab setting can help promote “soft skills” such as respect, students not showing up on time and being unable to communicate with each other.

Murray, noting that Indiana continues to rank second in the country in terms of life sciences industry, said the lab could provide “a ready-made workforce for life sciences.”

Greencastle Schools would utilize its current staff, Gibboney said, noting that it has yet to be determined whether the fab lab would be a stand-alone elective or a lab seen as project-based learning.

Councilman Murray asked if there would be “Greencastle-specific” pieces involved.

Suggesting the venture would “put Greencastle Schools on the map,” Gibboney said the corporation is always looking for opportunities to stand out.

He and Murray agreed that the venture could potentially bring in new families as well as keep some families from leaving the community.

“It’s a really unique opportunity,” Gibboney said.

With the initial cost going for equipment and training, GCSC will be seeking out additional grants or industry partners.

Shields, meanwhile, was asked about the longevity of the equipment involved.

Some equipment can last 10-plus years, he said, noting that a replacement plan would have to be built into the budget.

City Attorney Laurie Hardwick said the $197,500 expenditure would be an allowable use of TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds, as controlled by the RDC, although it’s”not something we’ve done before.”

The equipment won’t need to be purchased until April or May, Gibboney said, so the GCSC “wouldn’t necessarily need the funds right away.”

The Redevelopment Commission voted unanimously to move forward with the project following a motion by Gwen Morris and additional Zoom aye votes from Erika Gilmore, Gary Lemon, Drew Brattain and Lottie Barcus.

In other business, the commission:

-- Approved a $32,414 bid from Joe Spiker Excavating on the new dugouts project at Big Walnut Sports Park. It was the only bid received after two previous bid lettings failed to produce a single bid.

-- Heard Mayor Bill Dory report that the city has received the schematic drawing of the proposed Columbia Street parking lot. As drawn, it provides 34 parking spaces about a block north of downtown.

-- Agreed to move forward with design of a drainage project at South Street and Zinc Mill Road where stormwater drainage goes off into a field. The property has some future potential for development, the mayor said, indicating a long-term solution might not be necessary at this time. On a motion by Lemon, the RDC agreed to move forward with design and get a quote on the costs involved.

The next meeting of the RDC is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17 at City Hall. The March meeting was pushed back a week to Wednesday, March 31 due to spring break.

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