GCSC talks wage increases and iPads for math students

The Greencastle Community School Corp. addressed corporation-wide wage increases and received a presentation by Greencastle High School math teacher Logan Kuhne about how iPads in the classroom are changing the way he teaches mathematics.

The board approved wage increases to help keep employment at GCSC competitive with surrounding areas and includes a 2.25 percent increase for classified salary positions, 3.25 percent for administration, 50 cents an hour for classified hourly positions and a $2.25 per day increase for bus drivers who receive a flat pay based upon whether they work a short or a long route.

In addition to the increases, classified salary and administration positions have a $1,400 health savings account (HSA) contribution from GCSC. That contribution will be given to those positions as a dollar amount included in their salary, giving the individual the choice of whether or not to put that money into their HSA or not.

Additionally, the administration's $1,400 contribution will be paid for by a Title 2 grant and not from general funds supplied through tax dollars.

Kuhne used his iPad to showcase ways in which the 1:1 technology is making the process of both teaching and grading mathematics a simpler process.

Graphing calculators on the iPads, Kuhne explained, are a fantastic way for him to show the class what happens when making certain adjustments to formulas in real time, helping the students to grasp overall concepts before needing to work out formulas on their own.

Grading quizzes has also been made a little smoother by allowing students to take submit answers via their iPads which Kuhne then uses to find out which questions were missed the most, what gave students the most trouble as well as an array of other data regarding test-taking that can be quantified and turned into a data table or spreadsheet to help understand where class strengths and weakness may lie.

Superintendent Dawn Puckett presented a report on the property located at 310 N. College Ave. that GCSC has acquired, explaining that the school board must appear before the Greencastle Zoning Board on Nov. 5 to get the zoning regulation for the property change so that it may be used for additional parking.

The lot is on the east end of where the bus barn is currently located and, pending zoning approval, will result in paving of the alleyway and numerous other alterations. Among those, the school had planned to keep the three trees on the property but given their health the trees will have to be removed. Shrubbery and a retaining wall have been discussed along with various other changes that will be further addressed after hearing from the zoning board.

An anti-bullying concert will be held at Parker Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. and will include performances by War Radio, Blues Side Up, Mike VanRensselaer and Gus Moon. The event is billed to raise community awareness and how bullying prevention remains an important battle for both children and adults.

In other business:

* The board approved to accept numerous grants including a $277,072 Title 1 grant with an additional $13,274 provided as a subsection of that grant, $72, 650 Title 2 grant, $2,416 Title 3 grant, a $1,404 Non-English Speaking Grant and a $6,596 Safe Haven matching grant that will require GCSC to match $3,298.

* Construction at Tzouanakis Intermediate School, the McAnally roof project and the cafeteria remodel are all in their final stages, with all major construction being completed an "final touch-ups" all that remain despite an initial completion date that is several months overdue.

* The board approved to select bids for two buses from Mid-west Transit Equipment, a $50,128 bid for a 14-passenger bus and a $50,720 for a 28-passenger bus.

* The board approved numerous hires, including Jennifer Wilson as half-time reading teacher for Ridpath Primary; Catharine Simmerman as temporary art teacher for Deer Meadow Elementary and Ridpath Primary; Barbara Hutchison as substitute cafeteria assistant; Erica Brandon, Tennille Burgeson, Lyn Fenwick and Jessica Woolery as substitute teachers; Roland Hawkins as custodian at GMS and Julie Shock as instructional assistant at GMS.

* The board also approved numerous athletic hires at Greencastle Middle School, including Shane Thomas as wrestling coach; Philip Barker as eighth-grade boys' basketball coach; Kendal Faust as seventh-grade boys' basketball coach; Denise Meyer as head swim coach; Dess Frank as assistant swim coach; Amy Robinson as art department chairman and art club sponsor and Douglas Davies as volunteer seventh-grade boys' assistant basketball coach.

* The board approved multiple athletic hires at Greencastle High School, including Troy Remsburg as varsity baseball coach; Ben Wells as varsity baseball coach; Kent Menzel as head boys' swim coach and head girls' swim coach; Elizabeth Gleason as assistant swim and dive coach; Jessica Faust as winter varsity cheer coach; Thomas Downing as assistant wrestling coach; Meredith Wade as diversity club sponsor; Michelle Thomas as spell bowl coach; Doug Hudson as volunteer assistant basketball coach and academic advisor; Travis Nicholson and Josh King as volunteer baseball coaches; Bruce Cook as volunteer assistant girls' basketball coach, Logan Kuhne as volunteer wrestling coach and Nolan Lewis as volunteer wrestling coach.