Greenfield school board’s first meeting of 2026 in the books; Board members receive gifts made for them by students 

By Angela Shepherd
GEVS

While the loads of snow and frigid temps meant that not everyone that was scheduled to have presentations at the Jan. 26 Greenfield school board meeting got to be there, that didn’t mean that gifts for school board members were unable to be present.

Board members each received a handmade bouquet of handprint flowers made by Megan Cheesebrew’s preschool students, as well as framed and colored drawings of a tiger, courtesy of the creative minds and hands of Lyndsey Mincey’s elementary art students. And if that’s not enough, each board member also received a purple metal tumbler with the school’s clocktower etched into it, which Nate Luke’s students did.

The handmade items were all waiting on the board of education members as they arrived for the regular meeting scheduled for Jan. 26, which was held in the central office boardroom. The other presentations that were scheduled have been moved to April when the board of education meeting is once again scheduled to be at Greenfield Elementary. 

In other meeting business, consent agenda items approved by the board included approving the Greenfield Elementary fifth-grade field trip in May to the Newport Aquarium. 

Also included in the approved items was a resolution authorizing submission of an application for the Ross County Park District Community Enrichment Grant, which, if awarded, would provide new playground equipment at Buckskin Elementary, according to district treasurer Brad Barber. Barber said the PTO is also applying for the same grant with the idea that, if awarded, it would be donated to the school for the purchase of new playground equipment. Barber noted that the elementary playground is eligible for the grant as it is not just used by students, but the community as well.

Board members also approved employment recommendations. Those were Wendy Coonrod - paraprofessional; Judith Earley - bus driver; Andrea Boggs - aide, cafeteria; Bradley Ford - school resource officer and honor guard; Michelle Hester - aide, custodian, cafeteria; Laura Schoettle - cafeteria; Ethan Hurtt - girls track assistant; Jacob Catrone - junior high track; Kiersten Beatty - pep club advisor; Iva Easter - junior high track; and certified substitutes Zoei Crabtree, Rose Milnes, Kayla Smallwood, and Lisa Snyder.

According to the report from J.V.S. Delegate Spencer Bradley, which was presented by superintendent Quincey Gray, Laurel Oaks is hosting an open house from 5-7 p.m. on Jan. 29. Additionally, the school’s senior ceremony is scheduled to be held May 11 at the Nutter Center. 

Gray, in her report, noted that the state requires students to be in school a certain number of hours each year. Each year the district builds into the calendar time above the state requirements to ensure the hourly requirements are met, even with unexpected days off. Gray reported that even with the current weather woes, the district is still in good shape and has some wiggle room before having to consider making days up at the end of the year. 

The next regular meeting of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District Board of Education is scheduled for Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at Rainsboro Elementary. 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. For any questions regarding the district’s fiscal matters, you can call Barber using the following number, or email him at brad.barber@greenfieldmcclain.org. The district’s central office may be reached by calling 937-981-2152.

Below, following the Jan. 26 school board meeting, board members (l-r) Eric Wise, Charley Roman, Eric Zint, and Rachel Fraley display the handmade items they received from students. Board member Sandy Free was not able to attend the Jan. 26 meeting.