Greenfield debuts new football lights
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By Carmen Ensinger
Greenfield Superintendent Kevin Bowman informed the Greenfield School Board at the Aug. 16 meeting that the new football lights would be ready for Friday night’s scrimmage game.
“They are done tested and will be turnkey ready,” Bowman said. “We replaced ten poles with four that are all new, LED lighting and about as up to date as you can get. They even have lights that shine up into the air to cover punts and kickoffs, so it is kind of cool.”
Repairs were also made to the entrance to the football field.
“We had to do some repairs to the columns that were holding up the ‘Fleur de Lis’ sign because they were falling apart,” Bowman said. “We had to repour the columns that held up the sign to keep it from falling down.”
When asked where the funding came from for these projects, Bowman said a portion of it came from the County One-Cent Sales Tax.
“On an average, our district receives between $12-$14,000 per month in county sales tax money,” he said. “But in June and July, we received more than $15,000, well over what we have been receiving.”
Bowman was asked what he thought caused the increase in the county sales tax.
“I think the increase in gas prices has helped some,” he said. “I also think the stimulus funds that people received have helped as well. They are getting out there and spending those funds in the county and it is, in turn, helping our schools. I don’t know how we would keep maintaining our schools without those funds, so it has really been a plus for all the schools in our area.”
Board members were treated to a walk-thru of the newly completed window project on the north, south and east side of the high school. Bowman said next year the district plans to do replace the windows on the west side.
A portion of that project will hopefully be paid for with a school maintenance grant that Bowman is applying for . This grant is a $50,000 matching grant from the state.
“I’m sure the project will cost more than $100,000, but this grant will pay for a good portion of it,” Bowman said. “That will free up Health, Life and Safety dollars that we can put towards another project.”
Board member Elliott Turpin is taking letters of interest from Greenfield School District residents who are interested in becoming a school board member. Board member Rodney Knittlel is moving out of the district with his family.
A public notice has been placed on the website and an ad will appear in the paper asking for letters of interest to serve the rest of Knittel’s term. Letters of interest can be emailed to eturpin@greenfieldschools.org or dropped off at the district office.
The district approved the Hunt Scholarship Loan application for Carly Gregory.
In personnel action, the board approved hiring Noelie Martinez-Voigt as district art teacher and approved Jordan Bowman as volunteer football coach.
In the opportunity for citizens to speak portion of the meeting, parent Amber Range spoke about her concerns and read from several sources regarding the current situation in Illinois after the Governor mandated schools wear masks. She voiced concerns about other issues she believes will be coming to our school in the future.
