The Greenfield Exempted Village Schools Board of Education was honored at Monday’s meeting for its 87 years of participation in the Youth Leadership Association (YLA), the “longest partnership” of the program, according to David King with YLA.
YLA Board President Steve Evans read a resolution highlighting the school board’s “87 years of support,” and the McClain YLA’s distinction of being “Ohio’s longest serving YLA.”
King, a director at the Cave Lake Leadership Center near Latham, said his involvement with YLA as a student “pushed me to do things I never would have” without the program.
Evans said the Greenfield school board has always been “steadfast in support” of the McClain Hi-Y, now McClain YLA. He said the program “has produced more than 2,500 students to be more effective citizens and leaders in the community.”
“Thank you all so much,” Evans said. “We really appreciate your support.”
Karen Yeager, who led the program in Greenfield for 33 years, was also in attendance for the presentation.
Greenfield’s middle school and high school student participants engage in a number of service projects in the community, volunteering, as well as other activities throughout the year.
YLA has three leadership centers, two in West Virginia and one in Ohio located near Latham. The association began in 1867 and Greenfield became a part of it in 1928.
“We believe that helping youth achieve their full potential is our primary mission. We seek to help youth develop leadership and citizenship skills for a lifelong commitment to service through character building programs for all that strengthen spirit, mind and body,” the YLA mission statement says.
Evans, King, and YLA representative John King also presented the board with a framed resolution, as well as the names of all the student participants and advisers through the years.
In addition, the trio also came bearing other gifts in light of McClain’s upcoming centennial. Those gifts included two foam boards of newspaper front pages involving McClain, one of them the school’s 50th anniversary. Three framed and “enhanced” photographs were also presented, one of the library filled with desks, and two of construction of the high school.
In other business, superintendent Joe Wills reported that a centennial committee meeting is set to be held Thursday in the boardroom at 6:30 p.m. as planning continues for the upcoming McClain Centennial Celebration scheduled for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-6. For more information go to mcclain100.org.
On another matter, Wills said that the First Presbyterian Church is accepting donations of elementary school supplies for its back to school bash set for August.
Lunch price increases were also outlined by Wills, who said prices have to go up in keeping with state guidelines.
According to the consent agenda, by which the price increases were approved by board members, those changes are as follows: K-5 lunch, $2.10; 6-12 lunch, $2.35; adult lunch, $3.00; adult breakfast, $1.50; milk, $.40. Breakfast for students will continue to be free of charge.
Also on the consent agenda approved by the board was the acceptance of the resignation of Adam McGinnis, middle school language arts teacher.
Board members recognized the three McClain students — Jhaela Coleman, Kaylee Hurley and Cody Hardesty — who qualified for the state track meet.
All three were present at Monday’s meeting. Coach Bob Bergstrom said the athletes “worked hard all season” and each had the goal of going to the state. He said they all “did an excellent job there,” adding that he was “very proud of them.”
Concrete work is being done around the Greenfield campus, Wills said. A new sidewalk has been completed around the corner by the bus garage on Lafayette and Fifth streets, and more work is set for in front of the high school along Jefferson Street.
Wills noted what he described as “interesting” feedback from a student survey as to college plans. He said 43 percent of students plan to attend college and will be the first in their families to do so, and 34 percent of students surveyed plan to pursue science, technology, and engineering.
On a related matter, McClain High School Principal Jason Potts told board members of a plan to help students visit colleges throughout the school year. He said that, using school transportation, one college a month will be visited, for a total of nine visitations during the school year. Juniors and seniors are eligible and up to 40 kids will be taken each trip, Potts said.
“We’re trying to give the kids a good sampling of schools they may not have otherwise had a chance to visit,” Potts said.
He said that teachers and the parent-adviser council love the idea, and that staff will be included on the visits when possible.
Recommendations for employment by the superintendent as approved by the board are as follows: Amanda VanDyke, middle school language arts/social studies; Amanda Larkin, middle school language arts; Calee Febes, first-grade teacher; Emily Fox, Rainsboro intervention specialist; Jamie Hampton, middle school science; Louie Douglas Peabody, high school intervention aide; Shania Massie, summer maintenance help; Matthew Shelton, science department leader and high school technology aide; and Brian McNeal, assistant boys soccer coach.
The next regular meeting of the Greenfield Exempted Village Schools Board of Education is scheduled for July 20 at 7 p.m. at the central office boardroom. The public is welcome to attend.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
