The possibility of new streetlights near the high school and middle school, as well as the progress of the creation of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District’s website were among topics of discussion at Tuesday’s regular board meeting held at Buckskin Elementary.
An incident where two students were nearly struck by a car in an area that could use more lighting prompted a meeting between Superintendent Joe Wills and City Manager Todd Wilkin, Wills said in his report to the board.
The two met last week to discuss the matter of adding street lights on the school-side of Jefferson Street at Fifth and Sixth streets, particularly at the west corner of Sixth where it is more dark. There currently are lights at those corners, but only on one side of the crosswalks.
Wills said Wilkin is contacting DP&L, which operates Greenfield’s streetlights, to check into the addition of the lights.
McClain High School Principal Jason Potts, part of a committee for the creation of the district’s new website, said the layout of the new site is being configured based on a survey taken of staff, students, parents and community members. The whole idea is to “clean up” the old site, making it much more user friendly. Additionally, he said the mobile site will also be better.
While the new site is currently under construction, Potts said the committee is meeting nearly weekly and making progress toward the finished product. However, a completion date is yet to be determined.
Buckskin and Rainsboro music teacher Vicki Mikkelson led an Honor Choir (comprised of students from both schools) performance for board members at Tuesday’s meeting.
She said the students recently performed at Western Brown in Mount Orab with other honor choir students from Highland, Brown, Adams, Ross and Fayette counties. There were 20 members from the two elementaries, she said, and 160 students total from the region that performed at Western Brown on Nov. 17. Mikkelson said the kids worked hard practicing all day, and then put on a performance in the afternoon.
Board member Marilyn Mitchell presented each student with a pin and certificate on behalf of the board of education.
Wills, in his report, noted that school resource officer Sgt. Kevin Little with the Greenfield Police Department will be participating in the annual Shop With a Cop next month, and will be accompanied by two students from the Greenfield schools. The annual event pairs law enforcement with underprivileged children for a day of shopping, food, gift wrapping and more.
A brief executive session for the purpose of hearing a complaint against a school employee from a member of the public was held. No action or discussion followed the closed meeting and no other information was made available.
Among the consent agenda items approved by board members were the resignation of high school math teacher William Francis for retirement purposes, effective June 1, 2019; the resignation of high school librarian Julie Borger for retirement purposes, effective June 1, 2019; and the resignation of Jennifer Highley, ninth grade basketball cheer advisor.
Employment recommendations approved by the board were: Randalia Clay, bus driver; Amanda Raypole, bus driver; Krista Carsey, aide/monitor; Jon Jordan, bus driver; certified substitutes, Mary Washburn, Mike Kinnamon, Mykalley Carter, Joshua Roe, Kelly Shiltz, Allen Grigsby, Victoria VanZant and Trevor Gossett; Drew Hamilton, junior high track; David Weaks, junior high track; Keith Penwell, softball; Tyler Carman, softball assistant; Wes Smith, softball assistant; Bob Bergstrom, track; James Barnett III, baseball assistant; Cami Bergstrom, assistant basketball cheer advisor; Ed Bolender, girls softball; Owen O’Connor, assistant girls track; Brittany Quigley, assistant basketball cheerleader (ninth grade); Garett Blair, winter weight room supervisor; Shane Paul, head varsity wrestling; Owen O’Connor, seventh and eighth grade boys basketball; Mark Voss, swimming; and Erick Kegley, wrestling.
The Greenfield Exempted Village School District Board of Education is scheduled to meet again in regular session on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the central office boardroom.
Angela Shepherd is a stringer for The Times-Gazette.
