GCSC board looks toward 2023 in final meeting of year

With less than a week remaining in the fall semester, plans for 2023 were discussed when the Greencastle School Board met Monday evening.

Few items requiring board approval were on the agenda, though the board received updates on several matters from administrators.

Most notably, Supt. Jeff Gibboney gave an update on the continuing construction projects at Greencastle Middle School and Greencastle High School. Just two weeks removed from the November meeting, not a lot had changed, though Gibboney gave a few more details as he praised students and staff in their adaptability during construction.

“Overall, I think it’s been a good first semester at GCSC. It’s certainly been a busy one that’s posed some challenges along the way,” Gibboney said. “The students and staff have done a good job of working through the construction at the middle school, the changes in pickup and dropoff procedures. Obviously the same thing at the high school.”

The superintendent reiterated that at GMS, the media center, office and secure entry should be ready for takeover around spring break, at which point construction crews will move on to renovating science labs.

Meanwhile at the high school, areas in the north end of the school should be taken over in stages during January. Beginning with the art hallway in the back of the school that also includes the new life skills classroom, the process will continue with the history classrooms, media center and commons area.

“They’re starting to put some finishes in, some flooring and some tile work,” Gibboney said. “It’s really coming along, and it’s looking nice.”

He noted that he would like to set up a board visit in January.

“After that will begin the exciting shift of giving up about half of the second floor at the high school and moving those students and teachers to some temporary spaces for roughly eight to 10 weeks,” Gibboney said.

Once these classrooms are completed, the rest of the second floor as well as the cafeteria area will come next.

Speaking of the cafeteria, Gibboney’s other update was regarding the process of preparing for Debbie Carrico’s retirement as food service director in February and turning the task over to an outside vendor.

Gibboney and Carrico recently hosted a pre-bid meeting that was attended by four vendors.

“We had a lot of interest,” Gibboney said. “We expect to have a good bid day on Dec. 19 when bids are due.”

Later on the agenda, the board set a 4 p.m. special meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 4 to award the food service contract.

Also looking toward the second semester, Assistant Supt. Jenny French said March will be “a big month for devices and adoption.”

Following news last month that March will feature the adoption of a new reading curriculum for elementary students and a new math curriculum for the middle and high schools, new devices will also be on the docket.

The lease ends on the current devices for 6-12 students at the conclusion of this school year. With this in mind, devices are being reviewed and teachers surveyed as to their needs in the coming years.

Once the tech committee has reviewed these findings, the technology department will search for good fits, with final adoption set for March.

In other business, the board:

• Conducted a public hearing regarding Gibboney’s upcoming contract.

The superintendent’s original three-year contract will be up in June 2023, but the school board decided to begin the process of reviewing a second contract already.

While public comments were welcomed during the hearing, none were made.

Information on the proposed contract was published in the Dec. 2 Banner Graphic, and is also available at https://tinyurl.com/54x7nrta.

• Recognized the following students of the week from each school: Boyd Ensley at the high school, Ella Tischer at the middle school Colten Wade at Tzouanakis, Madison Lady at Deer Meadow and Noah Swafford at Ridpath.

• Accepted a donation from the Gary and Linda Huber Fund for Cultural Arts and Learning in the amount of $7,500. The funds will go to the GHS band, choir and art program as well as the Tzouanakis choir.

• Received updates, at board members’ requests, on the cleaning of Tzouanakis Intermediate School being outsourced as well as the staffing at the transportation center.

Board Secretary Brian Cox asked about Tzouanakis, with Gibboney saying they remained in a transition period of SI Commercial Services providing the janitorial service at Tzouanakis, but the process was going relatively well.

The board agreed to a contract in SI in late October due to a shortage of staff.

On another staff shortage front, Dale Pierce asked Gibboney about bus drivers. The superintendent said Kyle Clearwaters and his staff were doing their best, but it seems that each time they get someone trained, there is a need elsewhere.

He added that anyone wishing to supplement their income is welcome to contact the school corporation regarding driving a bus.

• Approved the following personnel report:

Retirement: Beva Miller as Tzouanakis third grade teacher, effective April 14, 2023.

Resignations: Gary Walls as GMS custodian, effective Nov. 28; Morgan Clark as Tzouanakis nurse assistant, effective Dec. 1; Carol Clark as inter-office mail carrier, effective Nov. 29; Candy Fiscus as GHS instructional assistant, Key Club sponsor and junior class sponsor, effective Dec. 16.

New hires: Cassandra Tiedemann as Tzouanakis nurse assistant, Terry Clifford as GMS noon aide, Alexandra Cruz as Tiger Cub Club after school instructor at Tzouanakis.

Leave of absence: Vicky Petrey as bus monitor, effective Dec. 8-Jan. 5.