Capital improvements on tap at Greencastle Schools

Thursday, October 14, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- A variety of capital improvement projects are currently being considered for three of the buildings in the Greencastle Community School Corp.

Projects for Greencastle Middle School and High School and Tzouanakis Intermediate School were discussed by the Greencastle Community School Corp. Board of Trustees Wednesday.

"We need to replace the middle school's P.A. system," said Superintendent Robert Green. "We're looking at quotes now."

Green estimated the project would cost $15,000-$20,000.

GMS principal Shawn Gobert pointed out that the current system was used at two schools before it came to GMS.

"The current system is a double hand-me-down," he said.

Ways to fund additional playground equipment at Tzouanakis were also discussed. Before the beginning of the current school year, the last of the slides were removed from the playground because they were not up to code.

"It's mulch and swings, basically," Tzouanakis principal Dan TeGrotenhuis said.

Green said the replacement of the equipment would probably be done over a five-year period.

"We'll likely do it one piece at a time," he said.

TeGrotenhuis said the playground equipment remaining at TZ was "marginal at best."

"We may be able to use it for another year or two before what's there will become dangerous," he said. "We don't want to wait until it snaps or breaks off."

TeGrotenhuis said he realized that funding for the new equipment might take time.

"Things are just horribly expensive anymore," he said.

Green pointed out that all playground equipment at schools in the corporation was inspected monthly.

"We file written reports," he said. "We want our students to be safe. We take that very seriously."

Green said he was also looking into a portable P.A. system for the high school. That project would be a relatively small one, he said, costing between $1,500 and $2,000.

In other business, the board also approved a measure to name the football field at Greencastle High School after former GHS teacher and coach John Fallis.

"The stadium will still be Harbison Stadium, but the field will be named after Mr. Fallis," Green said.

Green said he expected the newly-named field would be dedicated sometime next fall.

Stinebrickner asked if there would be any expense to the school involved, such as the building of an arch or other marker bearing Fallis' name.

"This motion doesn't commit us to paying for anything?" he asked.

Green said it did not, at least to his knowledge.

Fallis coached football at GHS from 1980-98. He returned a year later, and stayed until his retirement in 2004.

Fallis is an Indiana Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee. During his tenure as the Tiger Cubs' 10th coach he led his teams to five West Central Conference titles and three undefeated seasons.

"We really haven't discussed who will pay for what," he said.

It was determined at the meeting that Greencastle' High's commencement exercises would take place on May 27.

Twenty-two personnel items were approved, including the appointment of GHS football coach Eric Davis, who began working for the district this year, as a temporary replacement for a Tzouanakis third grade teacher who will be on medical leave from Nov. 8 through March 18.

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