FFA dishes on hydroponics at Greenfield school board; Marilyn Mitchell honored for 12 years of service

By Angela Shepherd
GEVS

Locally grown, fresh produce in December might not be something anyone in snow-covered south-central Ohio might think of as available, but it was available for Greenfield school board members at the Dec. 15 regular meeting.

Agriculture and technology have joined together for a new class this year, co-taught by agricultural sciences teacher Madison Schumacher and technology teacher Nate Luke. On Monday, both teachers were joined by McClain FFA members who have learned a thing or two already in this new area of education.

As previously reported, one of the learning aspects of this new course includes hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil, and students have taken off with it. They served a salad bar to high school staff last week consisting of items they had grown with hydroponics.

At the board meeting, students informed board members of the basics of hydroponics and how their grow operation works. It is all being done in the ag building and while students have been able to harvest some items thus far, others, like cucumbers, are still growing. They brought along bags of lettuce they had harvested for board members to take home with them. 

The students even talked a little about 3D printing they have been doing, and one of the things they have made is a hydroponics tower, which they brought with them Monday to show board members. 

Another part of this new class is drones, and with that comes the opportunity to earn industry credentials like Part 107 Pilot’s license, which two of the students have earned so far. 

Board members were invited to stop in at the ag building during class so they could check out all of this in action. 

In other business, Dr. Michael Loy with Adena presented information regarding artificial turf versus natural grass. His informational presentation included costing comparisons, research regarding injury types and occurrences based on field type across different sports, as well as athlete preferences on field type. 

Other meeting matters included committee reports, which largely centered on current projects like the auditorium, on which Superintendent Quincey Gray reported that the donor wall is up, and the design firm behind it has been very diligent in dealing with the challenges of 110-year-old walls, she said. Seat plates are ready for engraving, too, and work on the new lighting will soon commence. 

District treasurer Brad Barber reported that he and his staff have been engaging in training in preparation for year-end matters and will soon be attending additional training regarding new laws. 

Barber also expounded on the auditorium lighting saying that the electrician has evaluated their scope and the change from the current halogen to the new LED lighting should take three to four weeks to accomplish. 

In her report, Gray noted that the Dec. 15 meeting was board member Marilyn Mitchell’s last regular board of education meeting before the expiration of her term. Mitchell, who has served as a school board member for 12 years, was presented a plaque commemorating her service to the district. 

According to the report from J.V.S. Delegate Spencer Bradley, McClain student Aubrey Eubanks, who is in the health tech program at Laurel Oaks, was part of December’s student spotlight. 

Consent agenda items included approval of the McClain FFA trip to Italy that will occur in the spring of 2027, approval of the Local Literacy Plan for grades kindergarten through fifth grade, and the resignation of Greenfield Elementary secretary Andrea Stark, who will soon begin her new role as administrative assistant in the central office. 

Employment recommendations approved by board members included Bradley Ford - military science teacher beginning 2026-2027 school year; Valarie Barrett - paraprofessional; Eli Johnson - grounds manager; Andrea Stark - administrative assistant; Melissa Cornell - secretary at Greenfield Elementary; Kellie Dhume - aide, monitor, cafeteria; Lisa Sharp - custodian; Whitney Vanzant - pep club advisor; Kiersten Beatty - pep club advisor; Justin Kegley - middle school wrestling; Joseph Jeffers - middle school wrestling; Sarah Spencer - middle school wrestling; and certified substitutes McKenzie Anderson, Tessa Bosier, and Bradley Ford.

The next meeting of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District Board of Education will be the organizational meeting held in the new year on Jan. 6 where board leadership and meeting dates for 2026 will be determined. 

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, McClain FFA members Brayden Shover, Hailey Halterman, Toree Wareikis, Maguire Ross are pictured during the hydroponics presentation at the Dec. 15 school board meeting held in the McClain High School library. 

Below McClain High School Principal Matt Shelton (standing at the far left) talks to school board members following the FFA presentation. He invited the board to come and see everything in action during class time at the ag building. 

Below McClain FFA member Brayden Shover shows school board members the 3D printed hydroponics tower students created.

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