Tiger Cub Closet volunteers recognized at board meeting; state report cards discussed

By Angela Shepherd
GEVS

Volunteers for a program to help elementary students in need were recognized at the Greenfield school board meeting on Sept. 22.

The program is the Tiger Cub Closet and according to superintendent Quincey Gray, it was born from a need that was recognized by board member Rachel Fraley, who then followed through on the idea and brought it to life. 

This is the first year for the program, but Fraley said they have been able to help about 100 elementary students so far by distributing gently-used shoes and clothing items donated by the community to kids that need them. The program is for elementary students in Greenfield, Buckskin, and Rainsboro elementaries grades preschool through fifth.

Fraley said a collection day will be held Sept. 29 with a distribution night at some point after that. FFA helps, and Y-Gradale, too, she said.

Fraley said this is something that she would never have been able to do alone, and recognized with gratitude the volunteers behind the initiative. Those volunteers are Alycia Ralph, Violet Ralph, Genevieve Ralph, Hudson Fraley, Mia Fraley, Nicole Peterman, Chris Murphy, Phoebe Murphy, Shyanna Wagner, Michelle Haines, Libby Haines, Susan Thompson, Carol Wend, Shawnee Hurley, Tiffany Maag, Madison Schumacher, Faitha Shelton, Marilyn Mitchell, and the students of the McClain FFA.

Also part of the meeting, Rainsboro students joined principal Maggie Lyons to tell the school board about one of the school’s traditions, which is the opportunity to take field trips to high school athletic matches. 

Rainsboro staff and students recently attended a McClain High School football game as one of these field trips. Lyons said she and other staff took 31 students to enjoy the game. Three of those students joined Lyons Monday to talk to the school board – fifth grader Bella Gillety, fourth grader Arianna Nichols, and third grader Grayson Karnes.

Lyons said students take a survey each year to help determine what events they will attend for their field trips. Students also have the opportunity to participate in activities leading up to the event, like before this recent trip to the football game, they made treat bags, were able to choose a spirit item like a pompom or a megaphone, they could get their face painted, and they learned the alma mater. 

At this particular football game, the students helped to form the tunnel that the Tiger football team ran through. And, Lyons said, another staff member helped the kids to think about everything else that is going on apart from the activity on the field - like observing the band, the student section, and the like. 

In other business, director of instruction Alisa Barrett spoke about the recent report cards released by the state. The entire administrative team from the district was also in attendance with Barrett. She said they were “not just managers of schools” but truly educational leaders.

The Greenfield Exempted Village School District’s overall rating was three and half stars; in achievement - four stars; progress - two stars; improving at-risk K-3 readers/early literacy - two stars; gap closing - five stars; graduation rate - five stars; and college, career, workforce, and military readiness - five stars. The overall ratings of the individual buildings ranged from three stars to four and a half stars. All of this information, as well as more in-depth scoring across the buildings can be viewed on the state’s website.

To view the report card, as well as historical scores and comparisons, go to reportcard.education.ohio.gov. For a greater understanding of what the report card means you can check out the Tiger Talk podcast featuring Gray and Barrett with information regarding the report card. The podcast can be accessed through the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us. Once there click on “Live Feed” where podcast links can be found, among other information.

In Gray’s report, she mentioned a few things, like this is homecoming week so all of those activities are going on, Edward Lee McClain Day is 10 a.m. on Sept. 27, and Opening Night is Oct. 11, and as the auditorium renovation is still ongoing, it will be held at the Presbyterian Church.

Gray also reported that the district is the recipient of a $5,000 T-Mobile grant, and it was possible because of the support of the Tiger Nation. With that continued support – through spreading the word on social media, tagging mcclaintigerat1 on X, mcclaintiger on Instagram, and @TMobile with #FN5GL and #Sweepstakes – the district could become a top 25 finalist for even larger grant opportunities through T-Mobile. This information can also be found on the district and athletic department’s Facebook pages. 

Earlier in the meeting, Gray named the Greenfield students spotlighted this month at Laurel Oaks. Those were Kadance Lightener - animal science and management; Zaila Blevins - equine and livestock management; Mariana Carter - health technology; Jayden Harris - health technology; Garet Mustard - industrial diesel mechanics; Zion Barron - information technology; and Karlie Parker - health technology.  

In other meeting matters, employment recommendations approved by the board of education included Joan Free - high school Spanish teacher, Misty Easter - van driver, bus monitor; Nanci Lester - aide, cafeteria; Brittany Massie - van driver, bus monitor; Robert Perie - bus driver; Alma Shoemaker - bus monitor, bus driver; Melissa Thorne - aide, cafeteria, monitor; Holly Jaycox - seventh and eighth grade Quick Recall and middle school student council; Nick McNeal - boys swimming; Mikel Pritchard - boys basketball assistant; Molly Stegbauer - softball; Tonia McLanahan - dramatics assistant; Jack Spencer - wrestling assistant; Nicolas Beatty - eighth grade boys basketball; Quinton Beatty - seventh grade boys basketball; Sarah Thompson - softball assistant; Eric Stegbauer - volunteer softball assistant; Daron Detwiler - band volunteer; and certified substitutes Heather Boehle, Kelsey Brown, and Jennifer Priest. 

Consent agenda items approved by the board included permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2026, bus routes for the school year, the acceptance of the resignation of Tyler Carman as the girls bowling coach, and the acceptance of the resignation of teacher Angela Johnson at the end of the school year for the purpose of retirement. 

The next regular meeting of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District is scheduled for Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Buckskin 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. The district’s central office may be reached by calling 937-981-2152.

Below, volunteers of the Tiger Cub Closet were recognized at Monday's Greenfield school board meeting. The volunteers that were able to attend are shown here with school board members. Pictured (l-r) are school board member Eric Wise, board members and program volunteers Marilyn Mitchell and Rachel Fraley, volunteers Alycia Ralph, Genevieve Ralph, Hudson Fraley, Mia Fraley, Violet Ralph, and Phoebe Murphy, board members Eric Zint and Sandy Free, and volunteers Nicole Peterman and Chris Murphy.