GCS Board Keeps Numbers in Line

Joe Hornaday

The Greensburg Community Schools board of education took a look at budget proposals and the high school curriculum at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night.

The first new topic to be addressed by the school board involved the ADM update, or average daily membership. According to school superintendent Tom Hunter, the update examined demographics of the school system. Since last year, Greensburg Community Schools saw an increase in its total student body by just seven students. Essentially, Hunter explained, the number was in line with what he had predicted, though he expects a spike in the number in about five to seven years. The addition of seven students was the smallest growth in the last few years, Hunter noted. The number is important because it has much to do with the amount of money the school system receives from the state.

Next, Sue Auffenberg, Greensburg Community High School guidance, briefed the board about potential changes to the high school curriculum. In English and Language Arts, Auffenberg said that she hopes to begin encouraging the right students to attempt more difficult classes. She also explained that French classes may be replaced by another foreign language subject and that the social studies department might be dropping its Art History course. Auffenberg cited declining interest and the subject’s coverage in other art classes. She presented the school board with a “crash course” in the areas that she and Principal Phil Chapple had examined with focus and concern.

Auffenberg also suggested implementing an SAT prep program since colleges rely heavily on SAT scores for admittance. The board agreed with her and unanimously approved the future implementation of an SAT prep seminar.

The school board members also still had the budget on their minds, and the specifics of the budget had previously been published in editions of the Greensburg Daily News. According to assistant superintendent Dr. Dennis Goldberg, the budget is data driven, and he goes through and examines almost every item of expenditure on the budget with help from a few others.

“The end result is worth it,” Goldberg said.

The board also appointed Gary Bailey as the 9th grade girls basketball coach and Kendra Westerfeld as the new elementary school teacher. The board accepted resignations from Eric Schreiber and Ethan Schreiber, and gave a temporary leave of absence to Patricia Huser. Finally, the school board gave special recognition and congratulations to the Greensburg High School Girls Golf Team which finished 14th at State, with special mention of Brianna Scheidler and Megan Gindling, and to the Greensburg High School Tennis Team, which became Sectional Champs. Bill Edwards was also recognized as District IV Athletic Director of the Year by the IHSAA.

The next scheduled meetings for the school board include a budget adoption hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27 and the regular meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

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