New hires and no wires at GCSC board meeting

Greencastle Community School Corp. addressed Wi-Fi at McAnally, updates on the 1:1 technology policy and welcomed several new faculty members at the monthly board meeting on Monday night.

A school-funded cost break was approved to help with the integration of iPads as part of the 1:1 technology program.

The funds will come from the "rainy day" fund and will amount to $75 per student to help offset any additional costs that the program will place on families.

Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Hubble stressed responsibility and used his role as a father as an example of the costs that may be associated with the program, especially for those with several children in school.

"We're trying to be financially responsible with other peoples' money," Hubble explained, "We're trying to share in the burden of the iPad rollout."

In addition to the $139.50 annual textbook fee associated with the iPads, a $30 military-grade case will be issued for each iPad at a rate of $10 per year for three years.

The annual costs for families would drop from $149.50 per enrolled student to $74.50 after the financial easement.

"You figure if the military can use it, so can seventh-graders," Hubble joked.

Hubble also elaborated that financial assistance will be available for families in need, to help ensure that the iPad rollout goes as smoothly as possible.

In other technology updates, the board approved a $26,774 Wi-Fi installation program for McAnally Center that will also provide a web of Wi-Fi to cover the entire football stadium, locker rooms, press box and should reach far enough to cover the baseball and tennis courts as well.

In addition to new technology, new faculty was also major part of Monday's board meeting.

Among others, Ryan Spoonmore has been hired as the new varsity football coach, Angela Weeks will take over as the new GHS Tiger Cubs girls' soccer head coach and Debbie Carrico will serve as the new food service director.

Board President Michael White spoke about the cleanup day from the previous week, citing that nearly all of the 125 volunteers who signed up were in attendance. "There was a tremendous amount of work that got done," White said.

In other business:

* High school principal Russ Hesler acknowledged that the prom had been a success for faculty and students. "The kids had a ball," Hesler said.

* The board approved various financial expenditures including $748,146 for payroll for the month, $666 for high school diplomas, $449 to the Banner Graphic for publication of performance reports, $14,000 to replace the freon in various coolers/freezers throughout the school (a problem faced by many Midwest schools due to the especially cold winter), $1,730 for seasonal chemical treatment of athletic fields and $214, 776 to Apple for the first lease payment of the iPads for the 1:1 program.

* The board approved several policy changes including expanding the terms of military leave, changing the definition of bullying and harassment to include anti-harassment procedures as policy rather than guidelines, giving the school a more rigid protocol. Policy changes regarding the right of school visitors to carry firearms and weapons was tabled until next month pending further refinement of the policy.

* The board voted to approve the GCHS summer band program.

* The board decided to separate a student-trip to Italy from being an official school event. The trip will provide an opportunity for students to experience immersion in another culture but due to insurance reasons, will not be legally affiliated with the school.

* The board approved the decision to keep GHS teacher Nicole Kempf's student-trip to Italy separate from the school.

* The board approved a high school credit recovery program for those students who are close to graduating but are in need of a few additional credits.

* The board approved renovations for Tzouanakis restrooms, the final renovation project for Tzouanakis.

* The board approved changes in the teacher evaluation and compensation plan, agreeing to raise the percentage value of the observation portion of the process, citing that classroom observation is how administrators can create a more accurate picture of how well a teacher is succeeding. The new process was presented to teachers and voted on with a 93 percent approval rate by the teachers themselves.

* The board approved a singular change to the school wellness policy with the understanding that the FDA will be making further changes to its requirements in July, and will thus require the school to make more changes in September as a result.

* Two staff members were terminated from the GCSC: Connie Clark as Tzouanakis Intermediate cafeteria assistant and Jenny Vermillion as central office secretary, effective April 24 and April 23 respectively.

* The board approved the hiring of certified personnel including Ryan Spoonmore as social studies teacher; Shelbi Slack as speech language pathologist; Pamela Bacon as library/media specialist for GHS; Michelle Thomas as temporary fourth-grade teacher at Tzouanakis and Amy Robinson as art teacher at GMS.

* The board approved the hiring of several KIDS summer program teachers including Sharla Arnold; Wendi Evans; Kathy Terry and Hannah Mitchell. Makenzie Green, Amy Lewis and Nicole Bartels were hired as KIDS instructional assistants.

* The board approved several temporary hires for administrative support including Diana Callahan as elementary database coordinator at Tzouanakis, Deer Meadow and Ridpath for the 2013-14 school year; Daniel TeGrotenhuis was approved for additional hours for administrative support at Ridpath for the 2013-14 school year and Gwen Morris was approved for temporary administrative support at Ridpath for the 2013-14 school year.

* The board approved hiring several new staff members including Deborah Carrico as food services director; Kelly Brown as secretary at Tzouanakis Intermediate and Scott Sutherlin as custodian at Tzouanakis Intermediate.

* The board approved hiring various summer bus cleaners including Carol Clark; Andra Guyer; Brenda Green; Jennifer Beck; Martha Sutherlin and Valerie Lenihan.

* The board approved hiring Hailey Johnson and Shyla Herald as summer bookstore workers.

* The board approved hiring substitute teachers Tad Robinson for GMS art teacher; Sue Dreher-Harris as substitute cafeteria assistant and Olivia Query as substitute bus driver.

* The board approved hiring several athletics faculty, including Ryan Spoonmore as GHS varsity football coach and strength and agility coach; Denise Meyer as GHS varsity volleyball assistant; Angela Weeks as GHS varsity girls' soccer coach; Jimmy Beasley as GHS varsity boys' basketball assistant coach; Dave Zorman as GHS freshmen boys' basketball coach and Lindsay Wagner as volunteer cheer coach at GHS.

* The board approved several resignations, including Anne Graham as special education teacher at Ridpath Elementary; Kevin Rowe as GMS math teacher/mild-moderate intervention teacher and Rebecca Hoesman as geometry/algebra II teacher at GMS.

* A variety of athletics faculty members were also approved for resignations, including Michael Meyer as GHS strength coach; Jimmy Beasley as GMS eighth-grade boys' basketball coach; Susan Gillen as GMS swim coach; Sam Hirt as GHS varsity boys' tennis; Charles "CJ" Shields as GMS cross country head coach and Rebecca Hoesman from GHS varsity volleyball assistant coach and GHS varsity track assistant coach.

The next Greencastle Community School Corp. board meeting will be held on Monday, June 16.