'Smooth Wall' internet filter implemented in city schools

Greencastle students will have a new internet filter this semester, as discussed by the community school board Tuesday at Greencastle Middle School.

Smooth Wall, a "content-aware filter, not just a content filter," was adopted by the board in regard to internet usage by all students, who regularly use the tablets and desktops provided by the school system.

Moving away from the older Light Speed software, Superintendent Dawn Puckett and Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Hubble explained why this program would be beneficial to the corporation.

"Around Thanksgiving we began to experience issues with Light Speed," Hubble said. "(It) has not been able to solve the filtering problem we're currently having.

"It just so happens that the contract we have with Light Speed is up, and our typical pattern when our contracts come up is to look at competitors and see if we can find a better value," Hubble continued. "Between the frustration of Light Speed and doing some searching and consulting, we found Smooth Wall."

Hubble went on to add that Greencastle has used Smooth Wall in the past, recommending to make the switch in the process.

A three-year contract was struck with annual payments of $1,808.50. Puckett reinforced this idea by saying the school already has appropriate funds in place that will ease the transition.

In other business:

* Board members approved the usage of West Indy Cooperative to coordinate bids for food throughout the year, both of the commodity and commercial types.

* GCSC discussed items that are no longer of value to the school system, including kitchen items at the middle school like a steamer and griddle.

* The board approved to voiding multiple outstanding checks. These are checks written by the corporation that were not cashed by an entity for more than two years.

* The board approved the Evaluation and Compensation Plan for the 2016-17 school year. This will aid teacher and staff evaluations in lieu of ISTEP results. Tensions surrounding ISTEP testing remain high throughout the state.

* Multiple hirings, transfers, leaves and resignations were approved: Kyla Burnham, approval of FMLA maternity leave at Deer Meadow Primary (effective March 31 through May 26); Jeffrey Hubble, approval of FMLA leave (effective Jan. 21 through Feb. 11); Courtney Middleton, transfer from substitute bus driver to short route bus driver (effective immediately); Bethany Ford, transfer from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. cafeteria assistant to 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. cafeteria assistant (effective immediately); Tiffany Praed, hire as substitute teacher at GHS to cover for Jana Boggess FMLA (effective Jan. 5 through Feb. 26); Irene Mongaraz, hire as full-time substitute cafeteria assistant at Deer Meadow Primary due to Bethany Ford's change in hours (effective immediately); Sue Haberle, approval of medical leave without pay at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective Nov. 9, 2015); Sandy Rasnake, approval of medical leave without pay at Tzouanakis Intermediate (effective immediately); Marilyn Bakehorn, hire as full-time substitute cafeteria assistant at Tzouanakis Intermediate to cover Sue Haberle's medical leave (effective immediately); Linda Steele, hire as full-time substitute cafeteria assistant at Tzouanakis Intermediate for Sandy Rasnake (effective immediately); Janet Jayne, hire as substitute bus driver for both short and long routes (effective immediately); Jasmine Al-Anzi, hire as substitute teacher (effective immediately); Garry Anderson, hire as substitute teacher (effective immediately); Lonnie Lawhorn, hire as substitute teacher (effective immediately); Quinci Miller, hire as substitute teacher (effective immediately); Chelsea Hilburn, hire as substitute teacher (effective immediately); Alyssa Tesmer, hire as substitute teacher (effective immediately); Christian Arvin, approved as seventh-grade girls' basketball coach (effective immediately); Troy Remsburg, hire as varsity baseball coach at GHS (effective for the 2015-16 school year); Garry Anderson, hire as varsity track coach at GHS (effective for the 2015-16 school year); Mark Jedele, approved as assistant track coach at GHS (effective immediately); Thomas Lausee, hire as assistant track coach at GHS (effective 2015-16 school year); Laura McMaster, hire as assistant track coach at GHS (effective 2015-16 school year); Kevin Rowe, hire as girls' tennis coach at GHS (effective 2015-16 school year); Steve Paquin, hire as boys' golf coach at GHS (effective 2015-16 school year); Josh King, approved as volunteer baseball coach at GHS (effective 2015-16 school year); and Brad Haussin, approved as volunteer boys' golf coach at GHS (effective for the 2015-16 school year).