GCS Spared Of RIFs, Continues To Achieve

Joe Hornaday

The March meeting of the Greensburg School Board contained information on staffing, possible changes to schedules and an update on the Greensburg achievement school for the board members.

Assistant Superintendent Tim Stephens explained that several new jobs had been posted and needed to be filled at Greensburg Community Schools, including the job of Greensburg Junior High principal; an agriculture teacher at the high school; a high school math and physics teacher; an instructor for Project Lead The Way and a high school English teacher. School Superintendent Tom Hunter said that there would be no reduction in faculty and staff for the 2010-2011 school year, adding that the corporation was fortunate in that it did not have to RIF (reduction in faculty) any teachers this year. At a meeting with all of the school employees, Hunter explained the financial situation to them. Those positions of teachers moving out of the corporation or retiring will hopefully not need to be filled, Hunter said. And while the schools are in relatively good shape financially, Hunter noted that there was definitely not any extra money. The situation is under control, but the school has been operating in deficit spending mode. Next year, two retirements at Greensburg Elementary School may cause vacancies that need to be filled as well. The corporation is currently looking for a special education teacher too.

The corporation has also been working on a new health insurance plan from Dunn and Associates. A formalized plan is being put together, and Hunter added that the schools have not had a good year with insurance. Once its through the tough negotiation process, Hunter said a recommendation might be before the board in April.

Scott Holdsworth, a GCS teacher and leader of the achievement school program, came to the board with an update on the project. So far, 10 students have completed the school meeting the requirements for graduation. The school is a service to students who want to get an education but cannot obtain it through traditional circumstances. It helps kids get the credits they missed and put them in line where their credit numbers should be. It also works to assist younger students in making the transition to high school. The program, in its first year, has proven to be positive, Holdsworth explained. High school principal Phil Chapple said that everyone involved in the program works great together, but Holdsworth holds it all together. The achievement school was supported with federal stimulus funds, but the school board hoped it would remain a permanent fixture of the system. Hunter said that with a 95 percent graduation rate, plus the achievement school program, there was no reason for a student in the GCS system to not be successful. He added that Holdsworth deserves the accolades he has received for his work with the school.

The school board also: Announced the receipt of a new school bus, number 19; approved a request from the Tiger Sharks for use of the Greensburg Community High School pool over the entire summer if the pool does not have to be drained and repaired; unanimously appointed Andrea Wright to the library board; accepted donations to the corporation in the amount of $150 each from Dr. Robert Eversole, Tree City Tool ACCU Doc, Inc., and Don Meyer Ford, all for the Greensburg Elementary Wrestling program; and accepted the resignations of Crystal Simpson and Carrie Adler at the high school.

The next meeting of the Greensburg School Board is set for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13 at the Greensburg Schools Central Office.

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