GREENFIELD — A convoy of yellow school buses will hit the road bright and early on Thursday, July 29, as Greenfield-Central students return to school.
Teachers returned to the classroom on Tuesday this week, preparing to welcome students back to what all hope is a return to a normal school year.
About 40 new teachers are joining the ranks at Greenfield-Central this year, including one teacher who is following in her mother’s footsteps.
Lauren King has joined the staff at Weston Elementary teaching third grade, the same grade her mother, Mandy King, is teaching at J.B. Stephens Elementary.
Lauren King, who previously worked as a family case manager with the Department of Child Services, is thrilled to have landed a job in the same school system as her mom.
“I am so excited. I could not have chosen a better school district, even without her working here,” the first-year teacher said. “With my mom teaching the same grade, it’s going to be super helpful.”
King loves working with kids, but wanted to try something different from her role as a social worker, so she went back to school to earn a master’s degree in elementary education.
“I really like this grade because they are more independent, but they love to learn. They still love coming to school and are excited every day to show up. It’s a fun age group to have,” said King, a New Palestine High School graduate.
Her mom, who became a teacher four years ago, said she and her daughter have been having a blast preparing their lesson plans and decorating their classrooms together.
“We can bounce ideas off of each other, so that’s really great,” said Mandy King, who is happy to show her daughter the ropes.
“We made our first week of lesson plans together, and we set up her room together, and she helped me in my room too. We’ve been collaborating as teachers, which has been really fun,” she said.
While her daughter pursued a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, King always told her she’d make a good teacher.
“She loves working with kids. I always saw that in her,” she said.
Now the younger King is among the more than three dozen new faces on the school district’s staff. There are also a few new faces in administrative roles.
Jim Bever, who retired at the end of the 2020-21 school year as director of student services, surprised his peers by accepting the principal’s position at Greenfield-Central Junior High School a month later.
He replaces outgoing Principal Dan Jack, who has moved to the administration office to serve as business operations specialist.
Bever’s former role as director of student services is being filled by newcomer Robin LeClaire, who spent the past three years working for the Indiana Department of Education.
As the school year begins, some Greenfield-Central students will be seeing new improvements at schools while other construction projects are underway.
Construction continues on the new Harris Elementary School cafeteria, which should be completed by October.
At Maxwell Intermediate School, a new roofing project was completed in late June, with repairs made and shingles replaced with a more impact-resistant product.
At Greenfield-Central Junior High School, the parking lot renovation is wrapping up this week. The project removed and replaced the north parking lot, as well as the north drive leading from the main drive to the back parking lot.
Superintendent Harold Olin said the project will install a thicker pavement and upgrade the drainage area of the drive, which currently retains water.
At Greenfield-Central High School, the outdoor track was recently resurfaced, an upgrade Olin said should last for many years.
Also at the high school, the design phase is now underway for a new 1,400-seat auditorium.
On July 6, the school board selected The Skillman Corporation to oversee the design and construction of the auditorium, which will occupy a space that is now a parking lot just east of the swimming pool and north of the main gym.
Olin said the project will not only focus on upgrading the auditorium stage, seating and technology, but the auxiliary areas as well, like green rooms, prep areas and storage spaces. The project will also enhance the entrance to the school’s main gym and expand seating in the pool area.
Olin said the project, estimated to cost $20 million to $25 million, could start as early as February 2022 and be completed by August 2023.
“We obviously have some milestones to hit in the next six months to make all of that happen. We are very excited about this possibility,” he said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Meet the new teachers” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Following is a list of new teachers and administrators joining the staff at Greenfield-Central, as of July 27.
Jill Benvenutti, English language arts, The Academy
Robin LeClaire, director of student services
Caitlin Huntzinger, high school science
Janelle Keusch, high school family and consumer sciences
Shoshonee Junga, high school art
Courtney Majors, high school special education
Kristin Zimmers-Lawrence, high school English language arts
Nicole Butler, junior high special education
Steven Kudla, seventh-grade social studies
Sara Owens, junior high social studies
Leah Perry, seventh-grade science
Heather Toney, junior high English language arts
Kristy Tweedy, high school social worker
Kristen Bales, fourth grade, Greenfield Intermediate
Christie Braun-Hammelman, sixth grade, Greenfield Intermediate
Amanda Evans, sixth grade, Greenfield Intermediate
Hailey Johnson, fourth grade, Greenfield Intermediate
Elizabeth Lamey, GOALS, Greenfield Intermediate
Taylor Lane, sixth grade, Greenfield Intermediate
Jenny Strantz, sixth grade, Greenfield Intermediate
Mary Buckalew, K-3 music, Harris Elementary
Emily Feagley, first grade, Harris Elementary
Katie Helgason, physical education, Harris Elementary
Becca Ripley-Rogers, special education, Harris Elementary
Jennifer Tanksley, social worker, Harris/Greenfield Intermediate
Ashley Bedwell, resource, J.B. Stephens Elementary
Helen Brantley, speech, J.B. Stephens Elementary
Logan Gruell, kindergarten, J.B. Stephens Elementary
Kate Lambert, first grade, J.B. Stephens Elementary
Carlie Dahlquist, special education, Maxwell Intermediate
Natalie Rasi, special education, Maxwell Intermediate
Nicole Screeton, K-6 coach, Maxwell Intermediate
Josh Welch, physical education, Maxwell Intermediate
Megan Arbuckle, speech, Maxwell Intermediate/Eden Elementary
Susan Hillman, K-6 coach, Tier 2
Brittney Basaran, first grade, Weston Elementary
Brittany Hinton, kindergarten, Weston Elementary
Lauren King, third grade, Weston Elementary
Savannah Entin, K-3 music, Weston/Eden Elementary
Traci Gue, K-6 coach, Weston/Harris Elementary
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”School calendar” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Here are key dates at Greenfield-Central schools for the coming year.
July 29: First Student Day
Sept. 6: Labor Day (No School)
Oct. 4-15: Fall Break
Oct. 18: Students Return for Quarter 2
Nov. 24: Teacher Work Day/Flex (No Students)
Nov. 25-26: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
Dec. 20-31: Winter Break
Jan. 3: Students Return for Quarter 3
Jan. 17: Martin Luther King Day (No School)
Feb. 21: President’s Day (No School/Weather Make-up Day)
March 14-25: Spring Break (March 14-18 Weather Make-up Days)
March 28: Students Return for Quarter 4
May 26: Student Last Day
May 27: Teacher Work Day
June 4: Target Commencement Day
Grading Periods:
Quarter 1: July 29–Oct. 1 (46 days)
Quarter 2: Oct. 18-Dec. 17 (42 days)
Quarter 3: Jan. 3-March 11 (48 days)
Quarter 4: March 28-May 26 (44 days)
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About this series” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
This is the first in a series of stories kicking off the school year in the county’s four public school districts.
More than 13,000 students will return to school in coming days: Mt. Vernon on Thursday, July 29; Southern Hancock on Tuesday, Aug. 3; and Eastern Hancock on Wednesday, Aug. 4.
Upcoming stories:
July 29: Mt. Vernon
July 31: Southern Hancock
Aug. 3: Eastern Hancock
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”More coverage inside” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
A top administrator and veteran school social worker offer tips for making sure the school year gets off on the right foot. Page A4
[sc:pullout-text-end]
