GEVSD hears athletics, transportation, and T-Mobile updates; McClain continues lead in Midwest Division of T-Mobile competition
Pictured are school board members Charley Roman, Eric Zint, Eric Wise, Rachel Fraley and Sandy Free following the Oct. 19 school board meeting. They are pictured at one of the district's buses, which are housed at the McClain Avenue Complex where the school board meeting was held.
By Angela Shepherd
GEVS
Greenfield’s board of education heard updates at the Oct. 19 regular session regarding athletics, transportation, and the T-Mobile competition.
Transportation supervisor for the district, Nathan Cook, opened with a little on his background, then talked about transportation, including some of the challenges faced when covering the square mileage of the school district.
He talked about how bus routes had to be cancelled last year due to driver shortages, and in an effort to mitigate not being able to pick up kids this year due to manpower shortages, a number of school staff, including the superintendent and a principal, are currently working to obtain their CDL and are training driving school buses so that there will be the resources necessary should they be needed when students need transported.
Diesel fuel, and its rising costs, were another matter he talked about. Currently, the district fleet consists of 21 buses and three vehicles, he said. With the daily routes, the fleet covers approximately 13,000 miles per week.
In other business, athletic director Tim Bolender provided sports updates regarding the fall sports, which are winding down, and a look to the winter season sports that are gearing up to begin. Bolender noted that across all the winter sports, 238 students have signed up to participate, which is approximately half of the high school student population. And while not all of them will show up, he said, the interest alone shown by how many have signed up is encouraging.
The student athletic council that Bolender spoke about previously is now a reality. It consists of two male students and two female students from each grade level in the high school. The idea of the council, Bolender said, is to give the students some input within McClain athletics and to help “develop leadership skills and instill a sense of sportsmanship.”
Bolender also discussed the ongoing T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights competition that McClain is currently in, and also currently leading the Midwest Division. Once the voting is complete after Oct. 25, the top school from each of the four divisions, which spans the nation, will advance to the next round, where the final four schools will compete for the $1M prize.
The athletic director said this is the third year he has registered McClain High School to participate in the competition. He said in the first year, the school did not win any money. Last year, the school won $5,000. So far this year, the school has won $5,000 and then $25,000 when it was announced that McClain had made it to the current round of competition. People can vote every day through Oct. 25, and the division winners will be announced on Oct. 29. Bolender acknowledged that making it this far is all thanks to the community and beyond that has rallied its support for the school, and the committee of staff and community members that have led the charge on this competition.
In other meeting matters, student advisory council member Savannah Collins spoke about her experience at the STEEL Leadership Conference – an event created by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce – which was recently held in Hillsboro. The event is something she also attended last year. This conference has helped her to grow in her own confidence and leadership skills, she said.
Following the conference, the students were able to attend a Highland County Board of Commissioners meeting and present to the board about the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights competition.
Employment recommendations approved by the board were Scott Wise - classified personnel; Gavin McCune - certified substitute; classified substitutes Jennifer Bunner - custodian; John Caskey - custodian; Grace Ehlers - cafeteria; and Amber Moody - aide, cafeteria, and monitor; Michael Aeh - middle school boys wrestling; Shawna Conger - girls basketball assistant; Chrissy McFarland - eighth grade basketball; Bradley Rowland - dramatics assistant; Kyler Trefz - middle school boys wrestling volunteer; and Josh White - middle school girls wrestling volunteer.
The next scheduled session of the Greenfield Exempted Village Schools Board of Education is Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. in the middle school gym. To keep updated on what is going on in the Greenfield schools 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.