An update to the weather cancellations at city schools, a curricular update and curriculum changes were a few of the items on the table for the Greensburg Community School Board this week.

In the past, Greensburg Community Schools has had no two hour delays as a result of inclement weather. At the board meeting, Superintendent Tom Hunter re-addressed the issue.

“Do we need a two hour delay or not?” he asked the school board.

Hunter noted that it was rarely an advantage for city residents and the school. He also expressed concerns about traffic because motorists are aware of the increased bus, student and car traffic at the regular school time, but might not be two hours later. Bus pick-ups would be two hours later and everything would be scheduled back exactly two hours, Hunter said. The end of the day would not change and students would be released at the scheduled time.

Because the students who attend Greensburg live in the city limits, the locale is very compact, Hunter explained, and residents are not spread out like they are in the Decatur County Schools, which do use two hour delays when necessary. If GCS did utilize a two hour delay, classes would be shortened so students could attend all of them that day. A school day that does experience a two hour delay is still counted as a full day and would not need to be made up later. Board members Steve Taylor and David Weigel agreed that without much support for it from the community or vocal proponents, the system should be kept the way it is without two hour delays. The board agreed. School delays or cancellations will be decided by 5:30 a.m., and both parents and students can listen to updates on WTRE or WRZQ locally. Messages will also be sent by the new electronic messaging system used by GCS.

At the previous meeting of the Greensburg School Board, curriculum changes were proposed by Sue Auffenberg of GCHS guidance and GCHS principal Phil Chapple, including the addition of two new summer school course offerings. The curriculum changes at the schools were approved unanimously by the board to begin implementation at the 2010-2011 school year. Hunter thanked the staff at the high school, including Auffenberg and the administrators, who worked to bring the improvements to the corporation’s curriculum. Board president Tony Owens said he was listening to the Optimist Youth Forum on the radio before arriving at the meeting, and heard high praises from GCS students who were asked about the curriculum.

“Coming from teenagers, that’s a pretty big endorsement,” Owens said.

Moving forward, Superintendent Hunter requested permission from the board to continue the corporation’s membership in the Indiana School Board Association at a cost of $3,800, which provides guidance and counsel in different situations to members. The request was approved unanimously. Hunter said membership was a very valuable service to any school corporation.

The board also approved Hunter’s request for a rental contract with Wendell Finer for the school’s farm property in Iowa. Hunter said it was his wish to continue the association with the family, and Wendell Finer was taking over operation of the property from his father, Keith Finer, who is retiring.

Before adjourning the Greensburg School Board: praised Danny Glaser for his performance at Academic All State and applauded the achievements of Andrew, Greg and John Dougan for being named to the All-State Tennis Teams; accepted “Thank a Teacher” grants from the Decatur County Community Foundation for Virgie Dugle ($250), Sarah Taylor ($247.22), Cat Hoeing ($247.09) and Megan Moore ($249.03); accepted the temporary leave of absence for Laura Wells and appointed Robert Barker to the assistant coach position for the eighth grade boys basketball team; agreed to once again administer Indiana University’s alcohol and drug abuse survey to students who want to participate; and were updated on a few new programs that are getting their start at GCS.

The next scheduled meeting for the Greensburg School Board is set for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the central office.