Fall athletes, GMS staff recognized at Greenfield board meeting; Secret Santa Bags project by McClain Hi-Y kicks off Monday, Dec. 1
Greenfield Middle School staff were celebrated at Monday's school board meeting. Here they are pictured with the members of the school board during that meeting. Pictured are: (back row, l-r) school board members Sandy Free and Rachel Fraley, GMS staff member Vanessa Penwell, assistant principal Jeremey Andrews, principal Jason Potts, staff members Shelby Guthrie, Caden Wisecup, and Anna Black, school board member Marilyn Mitchell, staff members Toda Shrout and April Molloy, and school board members Eric Zint and Eric Wise; (front row, l-r) staff members Keith Penwell, Jaci Raike, Stacie Smith, Paige Basford, Holly Jaycox, Emma Gall, Whitney Vanzant, Linda Harper, and Tracey Cokonougher. (Photos by Angela Shepherd/GEVS.)
By Angela Shepherd
GEVS
It was a school board meeting in Greenfield Monday, Nov. 24 that saw the recognition of dedicated staff and student athletes that have made big accomplishments.
Greenfield Middle School Principal Jason Potts introduced middle school agricultural sciences advisor Shelby Guthrie as part of highlighting the things staff are accomplishing at the middle school.
Guthrie then introduced some of her students who were standing ready to show off their newly-acquired and growing drone operation skills in a real-time demonstration for board members.
Guthrie explained that the drones were made possible through a grant won over the summer and students have spent the last few weeks learning about using them and their place in things like agriculture. She said these drones would eventually be used at a five-acre conservation area where students will learn how to improve that land to better support flora and fauna alike.
Following her introduction to what the students have been learning, the student-operated drones took off from the middle school gym floor and bobbed and buzzed around as the students showed their budding piloting skills.
After the drone presentation, Potts spoke more about the middle school staff and the success that has come from years of putting the work in. In the latest school report cards released by the state, GMS was awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars. The school has gone from meeting standards and even falling short, at least by state criteria, in past years to exceeding the prescribed standards of student success. Potts made clear at Monday’s board meeting the pride in the staff that has made and is making this happen.
In other meeting business, fall athletes were recognized by board members. Those athletes are: cross country – Isaac Mincey - regional qualifier, and the whole girls team (Lila Banks, Laura Barber, Vada Ponder, Olivia Stegbauer, and Laura Stevenson) - regional qualifier; girls golf – Kaylin Sterling - FAC All District and 1st Team All District, and Reese Roble - Honorable Mention All District; boys golf - Carter Nelson - FAC All League, and Connor Chandler - FAC All League; volleyball – Brynlee Karnes - Honorable Mention FAC; girls soccer – team (Becca Bergstrom, Allie Burgess, Brieann Cummins, Kalliegh Freeze, Larah Henson, Baylee Hickok, Keionnae Hughes, Leah Lovett, Mylie Lovett, Ana Lugo, Abigail Marsh, Karlee McGlone, Lydia Mootispaw, Addison Olaker, Bailey Parson, Paisley Pryor, Makynna Quigley, Colena Ring, Aubrianna Scott, and Kayleigh Scott) - district champions, Paisley Pryor - FAC All League and 1st Team All District, Bailey Parson - FAC All League and 2nd Team All District, Becca Bergstrom - FAC All League and 1st Team All District, Larah Henson - Honorable Mention All District, Mylie Lovett - Honorable Mention All District, Leah Lovett - Honorable Mention All District, and Addison Olaker - FAC All League and 2nd Team All District; boys soccer – Creed Davis - FAC All League and 1st Team All District; Brynnen Babbs - 2nd Team All District, Bryson Shover - 2nd Team All District, Ethan Eakins - Honorable Mention All District, and Lucas Banks - Honorable Mention All District; football – Hudson Lovett - FAC All League and 1st Team All District, and Andrew Roeder - FAC All League and Special Mention All District.
Fall sports were also something briefly discussed by athletic director Tim Bolender who noted in his recap of the season that while each sport saw its success and battles, students worked hard. This season also saw some firsts with the girls cross country team qualifying for the first time ever for the regional race and the girls soccer team earning its first time as FAC League champs and going onto earn district champs before their season ended.
Bolender also provided a brief preview of the winter sports that are set to start very soon, or have just started. There are 345 students combined in the middle and high school “on a roster” right now. He said there is likely some overlap there with some multi-sport students, but the numbers still prove the solid participation.
The athletic director also spoke about the old bus garage, which has now been repurposed into a new athletic facility, and the continuing improvements there. Included in that is two new batting cages that can be taken down and stowed away when they are not in use. The wrestling programs are also currently using the space for their practices.
The field house, which used to be the weight room and wrestlers’ space, is now where the winter dance team practices. Additionally, the little league wrestling program will also use this space, he said.
Student advisory council member Savannah Collins spoke to board members about a current project by the McClain Hi-Y. It’s called Secret Santa Bags and will benefit elementary students in the district. It’s a way to ensure the care and support of the next generation of students who are lacking elements of care and support in their lives.
The Hi-Y will be collecting things like necessity items and snacks as well as new or very gently used clothing, winter items, and toys. Money is also accepted and an Amazon registry has been created for the project and can be found on the McClain High School and McClain Hi-Y Facebook pages. The plan is to collect donations Dec. 1-12, then organize and put together the bags, then make sure they are in students’ hands before Christmas break begins. Go to the above-mentioned Facebook pages and the district website for more information.
District treasurer Brad Barber in his report noted that the district is watching several House and Senate bills which all address property taxes and waiting to see how these will affect the district once their movement through the state house is complete.
Barber also addressed a couple of consent agenda items, one of which was transferring funds from the science lab renovation that were allocated there for contingencies and that, ultimately, were not needed. With the approval of the board, those funds are to be transferred to the auditorium renovation.
Other consent agenda items approved by the board included the purchase of a 72-passenger bus through the Southwestern Ohio EPC purchasing program for $149,721.00, appropriated funds revisions, and the resignation of longtime district employee Kris Davis, who will be retiring at the conclusion of this school year.
Employment recommendations approved by the board were Nathan Cook - transportation supervisor; Susan Rayburn - assistant transportation supervisor; Martha Baldridge - paraprofessional; Misty Leon - paraprofessional; Tina Merchant - second shift custodian; Chandra Dean - substitute aide; Christopher Scott Wise - substitute aide, monitor, cook; Stephanie Bartley - federal programs coordinator; Brad Rowland - dramatics assistant half year; Scott Wise - boys bowling; Matt Binegar - boys basketball assistant; Kyler Trefz - wrestling assistant; Ryan Stark - baseball assistant; Richard Swan - baseball assistant; Blythe Bolender - softball assistant; Matthew Giffin - band volunteer; and certified substitutes Chandra Dean and Teresa Myers.
The next regular session of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District Board of Education is scheduled for Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. in the McClain High School library. To keep updated on what is going on in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District, go to the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us or go to the district’s social media pages. The individual buildings also have Facebook pages. The district’s central office may be reached by calling (937) 981-2152.
Below, Student athletes from fall sports were recognized at Monday's Greenfield school board meeting. Athletes (l-r) Isaac Mincey, Lila Banks, Vada Ponder, Paisley Pryor, Mylie Lovett, Andrew Roeder, Hudson Lovett, and Brynlee Karnes are pictured with (far left) school board members Sandy Free, Rachel Fraley, Marilyn Mitchell, and (far right) Eric Zint and Eric Wise.
Pictured below (l-r around the table) during Monday's Greenfield school board meeting, and during a student-operated drone presentation, are district treasurer Brad Barber, board members Eric Wise, Marilyn Mitchell, Eric Zint, Rachel Fraley, and Sandy Free, superintendent Quincey Gray, and student advisory council member Savannah Collins and they all watch drones fly here and there. One can be spotted near the top right of the photo in front of the purple ductwork.
