A new aspect was introduced last month that will be a mainstay for future Greene County School Board meetings.

Superintendent Brett Abbotts ushered in a student and staff honors and recognition portion of the meeting because he wanted to spotlight the positives that students and staff do within the district, whether in the classroom or elsewhere.

“So often the narrative that gets surrounded by schools is not always a positive one and that’s what I’m trying to build. It was a way for our board to understand that the work that they do and the decisions that they make at the table that we were at that’s who it impacts are those kids.”

Abbotts felt this is a way to not only spread more positive news about the district, but in a more direct, public way.

“And I want our kids to be recognized for the great things that they do on a bigger stage than maybe just in the classroom or one-on-one with the principal or something like that. To have an opportunity to be truly recognized for their great accomplishments.”  

September’s meeting had Ava Walker and Emma Sheridan from the elementary school, Brooklyn Roberts and Sadie Shannon from the middle school, and Gavin Vander Linden and Sadie Gilbertson from the high school. The staff that were also recognized included Sandy Juhl, Chelsi Lawrence, Mary Ambrose, Tiffany Hupp, and Kristen Heupel.