GEARY – The Geary Public Schools Board of Education voted last week to use a large, recent donation to help with student scholarships, the district building fund, and student activities.
The family of Frank Austin donated nearly $222,000 to the district late last year.
Board members Jason Bernhardt, Afton Jameson, Cecil Harrall and Waylon Upchego agreed to funnel $100,000 of that donation to a revitalized district foundation, to be used primarily for scholarships. The inactive account already had about $40,000 in it, Superintendent Sean Buchanan said.
“You put this with that, you really can help kids,” he said. “I mean, you’re not talking a $500 scholarship every year. You can impact somebody’s education dramatically here.”
Another $100,00 will go to the district’s building fund as GPS considers new construction or renovation of its aging facilities. The remaining balance, nearly $20,000, was dedicated to the district’s student activities fund.
During the Tuesday, March 1 meeting, the school board also approved an extra-duty contract for alumnus Cody Lewis, who stepped in to help coach the Geary wrestling team after the midseason departure of Coach Cedric Powell. Lewis guided the team through the postseason and even took heavyweight Chris Ward to the State tournament.
After approving the contract, the consent agenda and the Austin donation placement, the board met in executive session to evaluate Buchanan’s contract and to discuss resignations.
The session lasted more than 90 minutes. When it ended, the board accepted the resignations of one teacher and three support staffers. Elizabeth Terrell has resigned as the district art teacher, and transportation director Craig Brushwood resigned as well. Two cafeteria workers, Shirley Coil and Stephanie Dittmeyer, were the final two departures.
In his closing remarks, Buchanan said Geary schools have been selected to present at the Model Schools Conference. “I can’t overstate how big a deal that is,” he said. “It’s a national conference. Our school was selected as an innovative district. … The ideas that we’ve tried to put in place here, as we’ve come back from COVID and all the other challenges we face, have really (resonated) with people.”
He said the selection is a “tremendous honor” for the district. The conference is in Florida at the end of June.
Buchanan also told the board that the Greenfield teacher house, which the district owns and was remodeling for a teacher to occupy, was finished last week. The district previously decided to rent the house to a teacher most in need, with priority given to those with families. GPS believes the housing option will help attract staff to the rural district.
He also gave updates to needed repairs at the Stegall Long Fieldhouse and lighting at the football field. Buchanan said he wants to replace the football field lights, some of which have been damaged, with metal poles and LED lighting. The cost would be partially covered by insurance, he said.