May 21, 2014 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – In its ongoing effort to address student safety, Central Greene school board Tuesday approved the cost to use nine school buses during an evacuation drill at Margaret Bell Miller Middle School in June. The cost of $70 per bus for the drill will be covered under the Safe Schools grant.

Board president Andrew Corfont said the district’s crises response training team recently came back from a comprehensive program on how to handle various emergency situations in the schools. Corfont called it an “eye opening experience” for the team. Those who attended the program are now able to assist in training other teachers and faculty in what to do in the event of a threat to school safety.

The district hopes to offer a safety training program at some point in concert with the other four Greene County school districts, Greene County Career and Technology Center and possibly Waynesburg University.

In an unrelated matter, representatives from the university’s education department were at the board meeting Tuesday to thank the district for the collaborative partnership with the university.

In the collaboration, students pursuing a degree in teaching are given an opportunity to take part in field experiences at Central Greene as sophomores and juniors. In their senior year, they are then eligible to student teach in the district.

There were 18 students in field placement in the first half of the school year at the Waynesburg Elementary Center, and six each in the high school and middle school two times a week.

Yvonne Weaver, field placement coordinator and certification officer for the university, said education majors at the school benefitt greatly from these partnerships.

“You can teach them the book knowledge but there is nothing like hands-on. Our kids come back and they’re happy and excited,” Weaver said.

Under personnel, the board approved maternity leaves for Ashton Shaffer, high school social studies teacher and Jeanette Phillips, middle school language arts teacher. A transfer was granted for Lavone Warr from a midnight janitor position at the high school to a vacant afternoon custodian position at the elementary school.

Barbara Rush, Charlotte Hitt and Jacqueline Tustin were hired for the 2014 summer food service program at an hourly rate of $8.

Acting on recommendations from the athletic activities committee, the board approved several recommendations:

• Jason Falvo was hired as the high school assistant band director;

• Julia Camps was hired as a lifeguard for the Waynesburg High school Pool at an hourly rate of $12.23;

• Richard Rush was named the assistant head rifle coach;

• Natalie Blair was named the head 7th and 8th grade girls basketball coach and Dolly Throckmorton was hired as the dance team sponsor.

Volunteer assistant coaches were approved. They were: Lauren Abbadini, varsity cheerleading; Julia Camps, varsity soccer; and Chris Caldwell, 7th and 8th grade football. Resignations were accepted from Justin Stephenson, varsity assistant football coach and Kameron Schaeffer, varsity cross country coach.

The board approved the addition of Vicki McCartney to the noninstructional substitute employee list for the remainder of the school year.

The district received notification from seven employees of their tentative intention to retire at the end of the 2014-15 school year: J. Brad Monas, middle school physical education; Nora Coldren, fifth-grade teacher; Lori Greene, first-grade teacher; Margaret McCombs, third-grade teacher; Tamara Cox, elementary reading recovery; Nancy Fox, elementary reading recovery; and Deborah Crouse, district business manager.

In another matter, the board is advising the public of the closure of the walking/running track around the Raider Field of Pride for repairs. The track will be closed starting on or around June 9 for approximately 1 ½ months for safety reasons.