GCSC 2023 budget moves forward

With the caveat that property tax rates almost always come in lower than initially proposed, the Greencastle School Board voted to move forward with the 2023 budget process on Monday evening.

Based upon the forecast presented by Supt. Jeff Gibboney, the board voted unanimously (though members Dale Pierce and Ed Wilson were absent) to move forward with advertising the 2023 budget.

The 2023 Debt Service Fund will be advertised at a levy of $5,243,642 with a rate of $1.2485 and an Operations Fund levy of $4,100,000 and a rate of $0.9762.

This budget is built upon an estimated assessed value of $420 million in the Greencastle school district, the same number as the previous year.

The other major funds on which the school corporation runs — Education Fund, Pension Debt Fund and Rainy Day Fund — are not directly funded by local property taxes.

Gibboney noted, though, that the levies and rates will come out lower once the state has approved them, given the history over the last two years.

The biggest part of the budget, though, is the Education Fund, which is money that comes from the State of Indiana based upon a number of factors, the most important of which is the student count.

Gibboney said he is projecting a 10-student decrease from last year (1,743 to 1,733), though he also said he always tries to be conservative in such projections.

“We’re pretty close to that mark right now,” Gibboney said of the recently-started school year. “We’re still cleaning up new enrollments and withdrawals.”

In another budget matter of note, Gibboney said that five teaching positions that had been paid out of the Rainy Day Fund will be moved back to the Education Fund.

One major purchase to come out of Monday’s meeting was eight new buses for the corporation on a six-year lease. Working through Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing, Gibboney requested the purchase of six full-size 84-passenger Thomas transit-style buses as well as two full-size 46-seat Thomas white activity-style buses.

The latter two, coming at a higher price but lower seating capacity than their counterparts, will be for activities such as band competitions, academic competitions, field trips and sporting events.

“One of the nice things about these is they really instill a sense of school spirit and pride,” Gibboney said. ”They would have our logo on the side so they would be moving billboards throughout our community and in other communities.”

Additionally, these buses have air conditioning, which the normal buses do not have.

Board member Brian Cox expressed his uncertainty at purchasing the activity buses.

“I’m just not sure we need the new white buses,” Cox said. “I think they’re going to cause problems when it comes to scheduling in terms of who gets them, who doesn’t.”

Gibboney assured him there would be a schedule for the buses to keep such problems to a minimum.

The superintendent also urged approval, as the costs of buses are likely to increase even from this month to next.

Ultimately, though, the measure passed with Cox dissenting, as Russell Harvey and Mike White voted favorably.

The eight new buses will come at an annual rate of $275,000 over six years.

In other business:

• Gibboney expressed his appreciation for a smooth start to the school year, even as everyone involved deals with the inconveniences of construction throughout the corporation’s five school buildings.

“I’d like to recognize our staff and students for handling everything that’s been thrown their way,” Gibboney said. “It’s challenging enough starting a school year and I’m very proud of how our students and staff and parents have handled all the curveballs being thrown their way.”

• New Ivy Tech Greencastle Site Director Tammy Keenan addressed the board regarding the free dual enrollment program of which six Greencastle High School students are currently taking advantage.

The students are currently taking care of college credits while still in high school by studying Communication 101 and Psychology 101 at Ivy Tech.

Additionally, she updated the board on a $500,000 application for an Attract, Prepare, Retain Grant, through which Ivy Tech and 11 area would partner to attract more people to the teaching profession, offer scholarship opportunities and provide more support for area teachers.

“It’s encouraging because it’s something we’ve been pushing for with more partnership with our local Ivy Tech,” Gibboney said. “And they were listening and offered these opportunities.”

• The corporation formally opened its collective bargaining period with the Greencastle Classroom Teachers Association with a public hearing.

During the hearing, only GCTA President Kristien Hamilton spoke.

“The last legislative session brought many attacks on public education and educators specifically,” Hamilton said. “The legislation we maneuvered last session was exhausting, and I fear that this legislative session, it is going to be much worse. Therefore, I come before you to ask for your continued support. It is very important that we continue building a community coalition to support public education. Our students are counting on us, so I ask that you come alongside us and help us fight for what’s best for students.”

Hamilton thanked board members for seeing what’s best for students in areas ranging from curriculum to transportation and food service to personal support and interventions.

She also expressed her appreciation to the board for the increased salary schedule approved last year as well as for the dedication of the 118 educators covered under the CBA.

“As we move into negotiations this year, I would like us to take a serious look at how we are compensating our dedicated employees,” Hamilton said. “While we know the teacher shortage is real, we also know that it is equally important to take care of our loyal, dedicated GCSC employees.

“This is something that Mr. Gibboney and I have already been discussing and will continue to discuss as we move through negotiations this year.”

• The board approved a $384,087.84 expenditure with LifeFitness for fitness equipment to go in the new addition between Greencastle High School and McAnally Center.

• The board accepted donations from Hassler Trucking, Greencastle Pediatric Dentistry, Epic Midwest Insurance and McDonald’s. Each gave $1,500 to Greencastle High School athletics.

• The following personnel items were approved:

Resignations: Margaret Walters as GHS English language arts teacher, head volleyball coach and assistant track coach, effective Aug. 1; Holli Hill as Deer Meadow first-grade teacher, effective Aug. 19; Susan Fidler as GHS math teacher and athletic coordinator, effective Aug. 12; Kim Doughty as GMS custodian, effective Aug. 5; Erin Gibbons as Tzouanakis instructional assistant, effective May 24; Jeffrey Wallace as GHS custodian, effective Aug. 1; Jared Brentlinger as Deer Meadow instructional assistant, effective May 24 but rescinded Aug. 15; Julie Frodie as GHS life skills instructional assistant, effective Aug. 19; Kaleb Camacho as GHS assistant track coach, effective Aug. 1; Nicole Burkhalter as GHS ELA/interdisciplinary Academic Bowl coach, effective Aug. 10.

New Hires: Whitney Reeder as GMS sixth-grade math teacher, Jennie Riddell as Deer Meadow special services teacher, Ashley Pearson as GHS English language arts teacher, Jennifer Peavler as Deer Meadow instructional assistant, Brianne Blodgett as GMS cafeteria assistant, Amanda Shuck as GHS cafeteria assistant, Edith Joann Snapp as GMS noon aide, Shanna Gilbert as Deer Meadow preschool teacher, Morgan Clark as Tzouanakis nurse assistant, Jessica Fraizer as Deer Meadow nurse assistant, Trisha Smallwood as Tzouanakis instructional assistant, Matthew Sabin as Tzouankis cafeteria assistant, Doreen Workman as Deer Meadow instructional assistant and transportation center bus monitor, Dallas England as McAnally custodian, Dennis Sutherlin as McAnally head custodian, Debbra Morgan as GMS cafeteria assistant, Ashley Crady and Josh Stewart as Tzouanakis Tiger Club Cub afterschool instructors, Karen Neibold as GHS cafeteria assistant.

Transfers: Brian Hammett from GMS eighth-grade math teacher to GHS math teacher, Kristien Hamilton from GMS seventh-grade math teacher to eighth-grade math teacher, Jane Roberson from GMS sixth-grade math teacher to seventh-grade math teacher, Brianne Blodgett from GMS cafeteria assistant to instructional assistant, Dana Calvert from Deer Meadow instructional assistant to Tzouanakis instructional assistant, Timothy Hawk from GMS ISS instructional assistant to Life Skills instructional assistant, Joy Fortune from Ridpath instructional assistant to GHS life skills instructional assistant, Janet Jayne from Jackson Center route bus driver to special needs long route bus driver.

Leaves of absence: Kristien Hamilton at GMS, effective Sept. 1-Oct. 14;

Substitutes: Nick Duggan as GHS substitute science teacher; Robin Barber, Stephanie Farkas, Kelly Plott, Lisa Cooper and Parker Black as substitute teachers; Teddy Whitmer as long-term substitute at GMS; Connie Pierce as substitute custodian; Caroline Woods as substitute cafeteria assistant.

Extracurricular activities: Denise Meyer transfer from GHS assistant volleyball coach to GHS head volleyball coach, Mark Hernandez Jr. hired as GMS assistant football coach, Scott Hamilton hired as GMS head cross country coach, Andrew Tirrota approved as GHS related arts department chairman, Kathryn Dory hired as GHS academic competition coordinator, Amie Bailey hired as GHS stage director, Stephen Dombrowksi and Benjamin Wilkerson approved as GHS volunteer assistant boys’ soccer coaches, Heather Cantonwine and Catherine Simmerman approved as GHS volunteer assistant girls’ soccer coaches, Ashley Pearison hired as GHS publication sponsor, Lindsay Stone hired as GMS cheer coach, Angela Wood approved as Deer Meadow robotic club instructor, Gibby Tribbett hired as GMS head wrestling coach, Michael Cooper hired as GHS assistant football coach, Brad Kingma approved as GHS interdisciplinary Academic Bowl coach, Amy Thomas approved as GHS ELA Academic Bowl coach.