GCSC saluted for conservation

Thursday, May 14, 2009
Greencastle Community School Corporation was awarded energy stewardship from Energy Education during its board meeting Monday evening. Board president Michael Dean, right, accepts the award from Glen Gains with Energy Education, third from left, who is shaking the hand of Mike Schimpf, the district energy education specialist. Superintendent Robert Green, left, was also part of the award presentation.

For saving enough energy in 32 months to effectively plant more than 20,928 trees, Greencastle Community School Corporation was presented with the Award for Energy Stewardship from Energy Education during its school board meeting Wednesday night.

"Greencastle Commun-ity School Corporation, Superintendent Robert Green, the board members and administration are demonstrating wise fiscal and environmental stewardship by implementing a unique people-oriented energy conservation program," said Dr. William Spears, CEO and founder of Energy Education. "Using human resources to reduce energy use saves natural and financial resources for the organization and the community."

However, much of the praise and appreciation was given the school's maintenance and janitorial staff for their effort in the program.

The Award for Energy Stewardship recognizes an organization's efforts to implement an innovative people-oriented energy conservation and management program.

The program is administered through Energy Education, a national company whose energy conservation programs have saved more than $1.5 billion for educational and ministerial organizations.

Following the award presentation, the board got down to business and made several approvals.

Milk bids and bread quotes for 2009-2010 were accepted. The corporation will be keeping the same bread distributor, but for the first time will be changing milk carriers. By switching to Trout Dairy, the corporation will be saving nearly $1,000 each month.

The deciding factor for the rare change was the price of orange juice.

Prices for textbook rental during the 2009-2010 school year was approved with a change. Parents of band and choir students can expect to pay a small music fee. The $5 charge is to help cover costs for instruments as well as sheet music.

Student handbooks and student/parent guides for 2009-2010 were given approval along with the computer lease agreement.

After some discussion over the computer lease, it was agreed the corporation would extend the lease time on the computers.

Instead of leasing computers for three years, the contract will be four years. The change will save nearly $40,000 in a four-year timeframe.

In other approvals, the board accepted all 58 personnel matters including the retirement of Eve Stark, a G/T teacher at Tzouanakis Elementary.

"Those will be some big shoes to fill," noted board president Michael Dean about Stark's retirement.

Superintendent Green closed the meeting with congratulations to Greencastle High School's academic teams for their success at the area competition.

GHS earned first place in fine arts, social studies, science and interdisciplinary and second in English and math in Class 3. Fine arts and science teams qualified to compete at state finals.

The high school was one of 10 schools in its classification to be part of the top 10 in the state.

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