GMS to get new gym floor

Friday, February 28, 2020

The Greencastle Middle School gymnasium will get some long overdue upgrades this summer.

Thanks to a general obligation bond the school board approved several months ago, work on a new gym floor and new bleachers will be undertaken beginning the first week of June.

Assistant Superintendent Donovan Garletts informed the board of the work during the February meeting this week.

When the school was built in the mid-1980s, the gym was not air conditioned.

While this was common at the time, the lack of climate control for most of the building’s history has left the floor warped in a number of places.

With air conditioning added to the gym a few years ago, the new floor should remain in better condition.

Additionally, the mid-’80s wooden bleachers currently in the gym do not meet current handicap accessibility standards.

The new bleachers will be similar to those installed next door in Greencastle High School’s McAnally Center.

The $750,000 general obligation bond uses equity the corporation has built up rather than collateral.

With the money, school administrators said they hope to fund a number of other projects across the various buildings of the corporation, such as technology and communication upgrades including a new district phone system to replace the outdated current system, as well as new computer servers.

Additionally, the projects are set to include public address systems for the high school and Ridpath, tuck pointing at the high school and Deer Meadow, multiple pieces of floor cleaning and maintenance equipment, concession stand plumbing, Tzouanakis library lights, water heaters at the middle and high schools, a pool heater at McAnally, an east side roll-up door at McAnally, replacement of district radios and keyless entry and card reader systems at Tzouanakis, Ridpath and Deer Meadow.

The GO bond replaced another bond that was expiring, keeping the property tax rate steady for the school district.

In other business:

• In her monthly curriculum spotlight, Curriculum Director Jennifer French announced a dyslexia simulation will take place April 27 in the Greencastle High School library.

French said studies show that 15-20 percent of the population shows dyslexic characteristics, so this demonstration is aimed at educating parents, teachers and community members what dyslexic students go through on a daily basis.

The event is set to take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. More information will be available as the event approaches.

• French also invited Deer Meadow first grade teacher Holli Hill to discuss the Tucked in Tuesday program she has spearheaded at the primary school.

Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. a Deer Meadow staff member will take to the Tucked in Tuesday Facebook page to read a story aimed at primary-aged children.

The staff member can either read live, leaving them open to interact with those who tune in, or do a pre-taped video.

While aimed at Deer Meadow students, the Facebook page is open to anyone who wants to take part.

It serves as a way for the school to promote literacy even outside of school hours.

On Wednesday mornings a trivia question from that week’s story is read during the announcements and students can send their answers to the office.

• The board approved several donations to the corporation, all of them coming by way of the Putnam County Community Foundation.

Jeff and Denise Sigworth, donated $1,500 to the Greencastle High School top 10 percent dinner and another $1,500 to the boys’ and girls’ soccer programs at the hgihs chool.

PCCF also distributed a $500 donation to the Greencastle High School DECA Club and $1,472 to the GHS environmental/science club.

• The board approved a number of personnel items, most notable among them a pair of retirements.

Maureen Eiteljorge will retire as special services teacher at Tzouanakis Intermediate effective May 22.

Dan Green will retire as operations director June 30.

Resignations: Amy McInerny as Tzouanakis cafeteria assistant (Feb. 14) and Kristian Eaglin as GHS custodian (Feb. 15).

Leaves of absence: Deer Meadow art teacher Catherine Simmerman (Feb. 7-21), Sandra Rasnake-extended leave of absence at Tzouanakis.

New hires: Jeffrey Wallace as GHS custodian, Raymond Gilliger as GHS part-time custodian, Madeline Smith as 21st Century Community Learning Center instructor at GMS.

Transfer: Janet Jayne from substitute bus driver to full time.

Substitutes: JoEllen Cook, Laramie Teall and Olivia Neff as substitute teachers; Brittany Schmitz and Bryan Harris as substitute bus drivers.

Extracurricular activities: Daniel Summerlot, Brandi Baxter, Tonya Welker and Robert Johnson-GMS assistant track coaches; Tabatha Briones-GHS spring athletic event coordinator; John Parmley-GHS volunteer assistant boys’ golf coach.

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  • I can share from personal experience that the GMS and auxiliary gym in GHS were AWFUL for student athletes to practice and play on. I am being kind with this statement

    -- Posted by beg on Sat, Feb 29, 2020, at 2:16 AM
  • Please make sure there will be handrails in the bleachers in the middle school gym’s bleacher area. As it is now, those bleachers are very hard for older people or anyone with physical ailments to climb. And there’s not always space on the front row.

    -- Posted by howsthishappen on Tue, Mar 3, 2020, at 9:48 PM
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