Spainhour named future Greenbrier superintendent
GREENBRIER The Greenbrier School Board unanimously approved the hiring of Scott Spainhour as superintendent of schools beginning July 1. Spainhour replaces superintendent Mike Mertens who announced his retirement earlier this year. Spainhour, who is the current superintendent of the Sheridan School District, his wife Shannon and their sons Ryan, Michael, Matthew and Steven were honored by a short reception.
The board also voted to add a $600 pay raise to each teacher pay grade in the district. "I wish it could be more," Merten's told the board, but added that expenses associated with the expanding district made it impossible. Merten's pointed to Greenbrier's increasing enrollment numbers. In the first quarter of the school year, the district gained 87 new students. In the second and third quarters, the district gained 97 and 102 students respectively for a total enrollment of 2888.
The board also improved the addition of an addition pay grade for bus drivers with routes over 50 miles long. "We can't get substitutes for these longer routes," Merten's told the board, adding that the increase in pay would help the district staff those routes.
The School Board also heard a report on construction projects from the district architects. The construction of the new high school auditorium is going well, but the new elementary school in Wooster has been thrown far behind schedule due to the recent heavy rains. Without an improvement in the weather, the completion date would be pushed back to the middle of August. The first day of school is scheduled for August 18. The board also received word that some deliveries were on hold due to the high cost of diesel fuel.
Robin Clark, Greenbrier Gifted and Talented Coordinator, also addressed the board. All four of the district's Destination Imagination teams attended the state tournament in Benton on April 5. Three teams took first place in their division while one team came in second. The three first place teams received automatic invitations to attend the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Knoxville, TN May 21-24. The second place team received a wild card invitation for having an exceptionally high score. "The kids and the team managers are very excited," Clark said. "We are all very proud of them."
The board then entered executive session to discuss personnel issues.