Greenfield students and families reading together in districtwide program; FFA members come out on top in state competition

By Angela Shepherd
GEVS

The elementaries in Greenfield’s school district are all reading the same book at the same time, a literacy program that was highlighted during the school board meeting held at Rainsboro Elementary on Feb. 24.

Rainsboro Principal Maggie Lyons talked about the program One District, One Book, which is in its fourth year in the district.

Last month, each household received one book, “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library,” along with a packet with a reading schedule and comprehensive questions for students to answer and turn in each week for the chance to win prizes. While the prizes are fun, the real win is families engaged and reading together.

Lyons said that more than 80-percent of children say they enjoy being read to at home with a main reason for that being the time spent with family. Lyons added that more than half of children ages five and under are read to at home, but this declines to about a third for ages six to eight, and declines to less than 20-percent for older children. 

The schools participating in the program all do their own activities to further engage students. At Rainboro, Lyons said they host family engagement nights during the reading of the book. One of these last year when they were reading “Pioneer Trail” were activities in different classrooms, so students and their families got to try things that pioneers on the Oregon Trail would have done as part of their daily lives. As the book being read this year takes place in a library, an engagement activity Rainsboro students got to do this week was visit the library  at Rocky Fork.

In other business, members of McClain FFA were recognized for a recent big win. Brooke Baldwin, Addison Goddard, Haily Halterman, and Olivia Stegbauer are the Ohio FFA Agricultural Communications 2025 State Champions.

As they explained during the meeting, they all attended a simulated press conference a couple weeks ago at OSU about an agricultural program. From there, each of them took on a different media platform and crafted a marketing presentation to promote the program.  

Board member Eric Wise mentioned senate and house bills that are in various stages at the state house and that will directly impact schools. Those were HB 57, HB 96, HB 97, HB 103, HB 107, and SB 109. To read further on these legislative measures, go to legislature.ohio.gov.

District treasurer Brad Barber also touched on legislation, particularly on HB 96 that concerns the state budget, which directly impacts school funding. Barber also discussed briefly the things that will come into play for how the school funding shakes out, which includes local factors like property reevaluations and income levels.

In her report, Superintendent Quincey Gray said the annual state of the district address is set for March 13 at 6 p.m. More information on this will be made known soon. 

Katie Cook, a superintendent’s student advisory council member, reported to the board her experiences this year as part of the Lady Tigers basketball team. She said the work put in by the team in the weight room in the off-season really showed on the court, and the support from the community was exceptional.

Consent agenda items approved by the board were student handbooks and the district calendar for the 2025-2026 school year, the McClain Dance Team trip to Kentucky in March, and a field trip for Greenfield fifth graders to the Newport Aquarium in May. Also approved by board members was the resignation of literacy specialist Leah Unger at the conclusion of the school year for the purpose of retirement. 

Employment recommendations approved by the board were: Kim Beatty - secretary; Brian Beechler - school resource officer; Andrea Johnson - substitute aide, secretary; Jordayn Woods - substitute aide, secretary, cafeteria; Emily Jones - substitute aide; Jacob Catrone - junior high track; Mikel Pritchard - junior High track; Cierra Bolender - softball assistant; Whitney Vanzant - junior high track; Brian Knowles - softball assistant; Blythe Bolender - softball assistant; and certified substitutes Margaret Penn-Free and Emily Jones.

The next regular meeting of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District Board of Education is scheduled for March 31 at 7 p.m. in the McClain cafeteria. 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. 

Pictured during the superintendent's report at the GEVSD school board meeting held at Rainsboro Elementary on Feb. 24 (clockwise around table) are student advisory council member Katie Cook, superintendent Quincey Gray, board members Rachel Fraley, Eric Wise, Eric Zint, Marilyn Mitchell and Sandy Free and district treasurer Brad Barber.