GCSC students, faculty boot up for devices

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

The Greencastle School Corporation meets every third Monday of the month to discuss budgets, projects and future plans. This month's standardized meeting was simply that -- standard.

Though several projects were highlighted, the board was happy to report no major issues had occurred at the start of the school year.

However, one topic that stood out was the new adoption of electronic devices in the middle and high schools.

The use of tablets has been nearly universal as many schools have been turning to them throughout the country. Greencastle is the latest to use such a system, and as with all change, there were a few minor issues at the start of the year.

"We're extremely excited that the iPads are now in the kids' hands," Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Hubble said. "We had a few glitches, (but) we managed to get all the iPads in their hands very quickly.

"We had a couple small issues that we're still resolving, and of course we've had people who have withdrawn," Hubble continued. "We've had a couple issues with the Apple IDs for those students under 13 (and) we have had to teach them how to use the device -- some kids are very experienced and some aren't at all."

Hubble went on to add that a take-home program for the iPads, to be based on a number of criteria, will be drawn up soon.

In other news, the 2016 Capital Projects Fund Plan and the 2016 Bus Replacement Plan were closed. Superintendent Dawn Puckett opened the topic for discussion, though there was none. Puckett added that the school board, not the County Council, is responsible for deciding how these funds are used.

Puckett explained the 2016 collective bargaining agreement.

"I am happy to report that (through) a congenial and collaborative association negotiations process we have reached an agreement for this year's Classroom Teachers Association Bargaining Agreement," Puckett said. "The crux of the agreement is that teachers will now be paid up to a $100 stipend for completing their parent-teacher conferences outside of the school day, and that teachers who are eligible for increased compensation -- and to be eligible you have to have an 'effective' or 'highly effective' rating and completed a year of service -- would receive $800 on their base-pay."

Puckett went on to describe that the results are contingent upon receiving ISTEP results and that if a teacher has not been deemed "effective" or "highly effective," their $100 stipend will be divided evenly between the teachers who received the appropriate rating.

Puckett explained raises for classified employees and requested a universal raise of 25 cents per hour be added to wages for classified employees. Additionally, since bus drivers are paid by the route and not the hour, a raise of $1.25 per route will take place for the highest-paid driver with lesser amounts (based on current pay and length of employment) for other drivers. The motion was approved and will be effective as of the Sept. 4 payroll.

The increase of pay for "salary employees" hired prior to July 1, 2016 (effective Sept. 4) will be at the rate of 1.3665 percent. The motion was approved.

A similar motion for a raise using the 1.3665 percent-rate will be applied to administrative employees as well.

An overnight field trip for Tzouanakis Intermediate was approved. The trip will take place May 11-13 next year at Bradford Woods.

Background information on "budget trends" was presented by Puckett to the school board, which doesn't rule on such things. However, Puckett acknowledged that it may be helpful for the board to be aware of the $12.5 million requested for the school year. Puckett said that, despite an unchanged request in nearly five years, the school never receives the fully-approved amount.

Hubble requested that the Night School project be extended, receiving unanimous approval from the board. According to Hubble, nearly 140 credits have been saved, helping "three to five" students throughout the 2014-15 school year.

Lastly, several resignations and hires have been received or made before and during the beginning of the school year. This newly updated faculty is as follows:

Resignations: Ryan Spoonmore, social studies; Haley Wagoner, part-time custodian; John Childress, third shift custodian; Jackie Hicks, cafeteria assistant; Angie Garl, cafeteria assistant; Lulu Shaw-McVicker, cafeteria assistant; Amy Weliever. girls' assistant track coach; Amanda Standers, Purple Pals co-sponser; Barbara Jessie, Purple Pals co-sponsor.

Hires: Alisa Isaacs-Bailey, language arts; Christian Arvin, social studies; Debra Sabin, special education instructional assistant; Andrew Wright, life skills instructional assistant; Shiloh Evans, instructional assistant; Donna McFadden, custodian; Sandra Clay, noon aide; David Hinderliter, third shift custodian; Tim Parrish, third shift part-time custodian; John Jones, transfer from second shift custodian to head custodian; Brenda Green, part-time custodian; Barbara Hutcheson, second shift custodian; Courtney Morgan, cafeteria assistant; Melesa Doty, transfer from cafeteria assistant to part-time custodian; Hunter Tippin, student worker; Fayne Custis, second shift custodian; Erin Sprinkle, noon aide; Makinna Bacon, substitute teacher; Stephanie Hunter, substitute teacher; Khristen Phillips, science department chair; Brenda Meyer, Ambassador Club and National Honor Society sponsor; Cindy Fiscus, Key Club and Junior Class Prom sponsor; Wendi Evans, Purple Pals sponsor.

"I really appreciate the principles of introducing the teachers that we hire so we can put a face to the name," school board member Gary Haussin said of the hires that were present. "I certainly appreciate that, and I know everyone else does too."

The next public meeting for Greencastle Community School Corporation will be Monday, Sept. 21 at Greencastle Middle School. The meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m.

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