GEVS Board of Education hears from 'astronaut,' 'musician'

By Angela Shepherd
GEVS

Greenfield school board members at the April 14 meeting held at Buckskin Elementary heard from an astronaut and a musician by way of second-graders who were presenting their wax museum personas.

Principal Randy Closson told the board about the wax museum, which is done by all second graders. The students choose a famous person, research them, compile a report and display, and then dress like and become that person for their presentation.

On Monday, Closson introduced Claire Judkins, who portrayed astronaut Sally Ride, and Addy Bluck, who portrayed Christian musician Anne Wilson. Both students, dressed as their famous personas, told board members about themselves with their respective displays in the background. 

Closson lauded the activity as it helps students build important skills, like writing and public speaking. 

In other matters, Closson also provided information on how PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) – a state program meant to facilitate a climate in schools that supports student well-being, academic achievement, and success – was going at Buckskin. Recently, he said, teachers participated in a video demonstrating expected behaviors as well as undesirable behaviors. He said the video is not only entertaining as students enjoyed seeing their teachers misbehave, but also created a lasting impression of behavioral expectations.

Closson also noted that new PBIS signage is being put up in the school. The signs are purple and gold, tying in with the district identity. And while things like this show visible connections with the district and being a part of something bigger, the principal said they also make sure the Buckskin history is known and celebrated, too. 

In other business, treasurer Brad Barber discussed HB 96, which concerns the state budget, the outcome of which will have a big impact on school funding. Other ongoing measures in the state house were also noted by board member Eric Wise. To find out more about proposed legislation and how it is moving through the state house, go to legislature.ohio.gov.

Food service director Stephanie Lanning provided an update to the board, which included a comparison of last school year versus this school year on the number of breakfasts and lunches each day, both of which have increased by 10-percent and 13-percent, respectively. 

Lanning also briefly discussed the USDA funded summer food service program, Summer Tiger Bites, which will be in its third year this summer. The program provided lunches and a next-day breakfast through weekdays over the summer months on the grounds of Buckskin and Rainsboro elementaries and at the colonnades in Greenfield. 

In its first summer, an average of 421 children were served each day. Last summer, an average of 469 were served each day. Lanning said the plan for this summer is to maintain the three locations and assess the need for further expansion.

An update was also heard from athletic director Tim Bolender who recapped winter sports and talked about how spring sports are doing as they get things started. 

Bolender also talked about the old bus garage, which has been undergoing some work to prepare it for its new use as an athletic facility. The hope, he said, is that it may be ready for use by the summer. 

Consent agenda items approved included the Greenfield Middle School trip to Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. in late May, cleaning contracts for district buildings, and accepting the resignation of Buckskin Elementary teacher Lynda Cottrill who will retire at the end of the school year. 

Employee recommendations approved by the board were Lucas Moore - fourth grade teacher at Greenfield Elementary; Brock Haines - high school business teacher; summer classified bus garage help - Tosha Freeze, Bobby Paul, Kayla Ponder, Jesse Ponder, Susan Rayburn, Tricia Shope, Jennifer Wise, Racheal Sowers, and substitutes Lacey Hawkins and Chris Miller; summer student bus garage help - Cullen Beatty, Landon Beatty, Chole Broyles, Katie Cook, Vada Ponder, Addison Olaker, Zach Scales, Allison Shope, Carson Shope, and Laura Stevenson; summer student maintenance help - Lexie Burns, Skylah Stanley, Madison Brown, Abbigail Couch, Nikkiah Smith, Josh Smith, Aiden Ponder, Abigail Fent, Emma Hoffer, and Sutton Hunt.

A special meeting of the school board is scheduled for April 22 for the purposes of determining scholarship recipients. The next regular meeting of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District Board of Education is May 19 at 7 p.m. in the central office boardroom. 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, Buckskin Principal Randy Closson stands with second-graders Claire Judkins and Addy Bluck after Monday's school board meeting. The students portrayed astronaut Sally Ride and musician Anne Wilson, respectively, showcasing their wax museum projects for board members. Their associated displays are in the background.

Below, Buckskin Principal Randy Closson (far left) looks on as second-graders Claire Judkins, as astronaut Sally Ride, and Addy Bluck (who presented with a little support from her mother, Lyndsey), as Christian musician Anne Wilson, demonstrate their wax museum projects for board members at Monday's meeting.