Changes coming to GCSC summer school, preschool programs

Summer school will be approached a bit differently for students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Greencastle Community Schools.

Assistant Supt. Jenny French recently gave the school board an update on the Jump Start program for elementary and middle school students.

With a focus on getting students ready for the coming year, the program will begin in late July this summer.

French said officials are projecting about 100 students will take part.

For high school students, summer school remains at the beginning of the summer.

The board approved the addition of a third classroom for the preschool program at Deer Meadow Primary School.

Currently there are two classrooms taught by Kari Schimpf and Lindsey Siegert. This third class will be taught by a non-licensed teacher who will work closely with Schimpf and Siegert.

The additional class will open up 20 morning and 20 afternoon spots for the program that has traditionally been in high demand.

As part of the move, the board also approved raising tuition for the program form $9 a day to $10 a day.

In other business:

• French gave an update on the GCSC after-school program.

The school corporation will be partnering with the DePauw School of Music to provide music exploration and instruction to primary and intermediate school students.

This partnership will also revive the Tzouanakis Strings program, which teaches violin to interested fourth- and fifth-graders. The program has been dormant during the pandemic.

• The board approved a resolution for stipends for all GCSC employees.

Awarded through the Department of Education, the one-time payment is to compensate staff members for extra duties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During June, each certified employee and administrator is to receive a $1,250 stipend, while each non-certified employee is to receive $750.

• The in-person instruction plan for 2021-22 was approved.

Gibboney explained that, having received federal funds for COVID-19, the school had to formulate a plan for the coming school year. He said there isn’t much new to the plan, but that it is simply the “stages of learning plan” on which it operated during 2020-21.

“That is what we are continuing to operate on,” Gibboney said. “We’ll make adjustments and modifications along the way.”

• The board recognized students of the month for May, who include: Greencastle High School, Olivia Monnett; Greencastle Middle School, Ella Tischer; Tzouanakis, Cooper Landry; Deer Meadow, Rosalind Knipp; Ridpath, Ryder White.

Students of the month for April have also not been listed in the Banner Graphic. They were: GHS, Brandon Hyde; GMS, Elizabeth Kavanaugh; Tzouanakis, Emily Weddle; Deer Meadow, Dalton Hughes; Ridpath, Clayton Fleshman.

• The board approved a number of personnel items.

- Retirement: Kathleen Terry as Tzouanakis third-grade teacher.

- Resignations: Jamey Landry and Tzouanakis guidance counselor; Khristen Phillips as GHS chemistry teacher, chemistry club sponsor and science department chairperson; Brenda Green as Tzouanakis instructional assistant; Claudia Hinderliter and Raymond Gillinger as GHS custodians; Tammy Shafer as GHS secretary to principal; and Dan Clodfelter as transportation buildings and grounds maintenance assistant.

New hires: Matthew Williams as GHS Spanish teacher; Ross Hanson as GHS/GMS choir teacher and choral director; Glenn Hile as long-term substitute social studies teacher at GHS (Aug. 2-Oct. 8); Kylie Kirk as Tzouanakis cafeteria assistant; Wanda Hutcheson as GHS cafeteria assistant; Anthony Byrum as maintenance technician; Haylie Romer as tutor.

Summer work: Robin Weir, Rochelle O’Neal, Eleanore Shillings, Allison Scott and Jennifer Scott as summer cafeteria assistants; Laurie Ferguson, Andra Guyer, Candice Pelfrey and Karen Phillips as summer bus cleaners.

Transfer: Dawn Stoltey from Ridpath cafeteria assistant to GHS cafeteria manager.

Substitute: Lorren Hile and Glenn Hile as substitute teachers; Sandra Lundy as substitute custodian; Haylee Romer as substitute support staff; Robin Weir and Kathy Brown as substitute cafeteria assistants.

Extra-curricular activities: Maggie Walters, resignation as GHS National Honor Society sponsor; Kathy Dory, hired as GHS academic competition coordinator; Scott Monnett, hired as GHS girls’ soccer coach; J.D. Sims, hired as GHS boys’ soccer coach; Kyle Shaffer, hired as GHS wrestling coach; Kent Menzel, hired as GHS girls’ and boys’ swim coach; Matthew Williams, hired as GHS diving coach; Renee Marsteller, hired as GHS cheer coach; Steve Paquin, hired as GHS girls’ and boys’ golf coach; Delanie Gardner, hired as GHS girls’ JV basketball coach; Samantha Call, hired as GHS assistant girls’ soccer coach; Cody Mitchell, hired as GHS assistant boys’ soccer coach; Rob Worman, hired as GMS football coach; Tom Hamilton and Ben Monnett, hired as GMS assistant football coaches; Holli Hill, approved as GMS cheer coach.