Greenfield’s school board meeting, held Monday at Buckskin Elementary, included positive reports from the school’s principal as well as recognition of members of the district’s transportation department.

Buckskin Elementary Principal Randy Closson talked about the school’s Positive Behaviors Incentives and Supports (PBIS) program and its purpose of creating a positive culture. Through this program students earn PAWS (Positive, Attitude, Wise choices and Safety) for their behavior and can spend those on individual rewards or put them toward school activities.

Closson said one of the individual awards involves a student having lunch with him, which he laughed about saying that believe it or not some kids actually view that as a reward. Students can also help him with morning announcements, which he said is fun.

PAWS can also be used toward building rewards like pajama day, extra recess and movie and popcorn day.

Closson said that while this is all meant to support positive behavior, there has also been the “interesting side effect” of students thinking financially as they plan whether to spend or save and how to spend their PAWS.

The principal talked about students this week dressing up each day for anti-bullying awareness, all with fun themes and eventually tying in with Friday’s all-district pep rally and a Tigers Against Bullying pledge.

The popular After School Kids (ASK) program hosted by the South Salem Methodist Church, Closson said, has seen about 75 students attending this year. The program has been running, and growing, for several years and is a testament to the commitment of the community in support of the students.

Buckskin and Rainsboro music teacher Victoria Mikkelsen, Closson reported, has been busy helping students prepare for upcoming events, which include a Veterans Day program on Nov. 9 and honor choir on Nov. 18 in Hillsboro.

Buckskin’s PTO will hold its annual Harvest Festival on Nov. 4, Closson said.

In other business, the Greenfield school district transportation team was recognized Monday for the teamwork that has made certain that children are safely transported to and from school even when it seemed it would be impossible to keep all routes going due to seemingly impossible odds, like not nearly enough drivers due to unforeseen events.

That teamwork is something that transportation supervisor Bradley George, who recently returned to work after months out for medical leave, highly praised.

Those present at the school board meeting were Nathan Cook, Craig Wise, Bradley George, Debi Bobb, Judy Earley, Tosha Freeze, Jesse Ponder, Kayla Ponder, Madison Schumacher, Alma Shoemaker, Tricia Shope, Dawn Stapleton, Steve Wise, and Mike Sykes. Also recognized, though unable to attend the meeting, were Randalia Clay, Angie Clouser, Cory Curtis, Chris Goddard, Jon Goddard, Jackie Hamilton, Lacey Hawkins, Mark Massie, Susan Rayburn, Cheryl Roberts, Vicky Ryan, Mike Weaver, Jeff Williams, and Jennifer Wise.

In Joint Vocational School delegate Greg Barr’s report, which was presented by superintendent Quincey Gray, it was noted that eight McClain students have been recognized this month in Laurel Oaks’ Student Spotlight. They are: Veronica Duncan, early childhood education program; Gavin Fleming, heavy equipment operations and engineering program; Brianna Ingles, early childhood education program; Wesley McCoppin, industrial diesel mechanics program; Logan McCoppin, heavy equipment operations and engineering program; Abigail Seitz, IT Academy program; Nikkiah Smith, animal science and management program; and Owen Switzer, automotive refinishing and collision repair program.

In Gray’s report, she noted that parent-teacher conferences across the district are Nov. 1-2. Also on those days are sessions on internet safety. On Nov. 1 there will be learning sessions with middle school students, and on Nov. 2, a session for adults using the information gathered from the student session. The Nov. 2 session begins at 7 p.m. in the McClain cafeteria and is for adults only. This includes parents, guardians and members of the community.

Allie Flowers of the superintendent’s student advisory council reported information on the upcoming play to be held on Nov. 10 and 11. The production is “Humbug High: A Contemporary Christmas Carol”. She said students have been working on the production since September, and this production is seeing the involvement of 44 students.

Flowers said the musical for the spring will be “The Little Mermaid”. The production is planned to hit the stage for the public on March 22 and 23.

Employment recommendations approved by the board area: Andrea Johnson – aide, cafeteria, and secretary; Madison Schumacher – bus driver; Melissa Trent – van driver, custodian; Wendy Coonrod – secretary, cafeteria; Ciera Swan – aide, cafeteria, and secretary; Misty Leon – aide, cafeteria, and secretary; Emma Gall – volleyball; April Malloy – volleyball, middle school Hi-Y; Leann Thieman – volleyball; Keith Penwell – baseball assistant; Shania Massie – softball assistant; Rose Milnes – middle school Hi-Y; Holly Jaycox – middle school student council, seventh and eighth grade Quick Recall; Bobbi Badgely – middle school yearbook; Iva Easter – volleyball; David Washington – boys basketball assistant; Sienna McClellan – girls basketball assistant; Caleb Cooper – high school wrestling assistant; Tonia McLanahan – dramatics assistant; Nate Fabin – dramatics assistant; and certified substitutes Jonathon Goddard, Mary Weddington, Molly Townsend, Kameron Reed, Robin Dettwiller, Donald Willman, Winter Moon, and Howard Zody.

In other business, items accepted on the consent agenda included approval of the McClain High School FFA trip to the 2023 FFA National Convention in Indianapolis on Nov. 1-3, the purchase of a new bus, and approval of a school-based health program agreement with Adena Health System.

The Greenfield Exempted School District Board of Education is scheduled to meet again in regular session on Nov. 20, 2023 at 7 p.m. at Rainsboro Elementary.

Angela Shepherd is a correspondent for the Greenfield Exempted Village School District.