Greencastle Community Schools unveils upgrades to GHS

Superintendent Jeff Gibboney said the renovations will help Greencastle compete, as the district is now home to "6A facilities in a 2A environment."

Renovations that have been almost four years in the making at Greencastle High School were unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday evening at the school.

"We began this process in October of 2020 when we began a facilities study throughout our school district to look at improvements and repairs that needed to be made. We engaged the community, got a lot of valuable input and this is a creation of everybody's efforts coming together. We are really proud of this. I know it hasn't been easy, it's been challenging to our kids and teachers, but it is really amazing when a community comes together," Greencastle Community Schools Corporation Superintendent Jeff Gibboney said prior to a ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Gibboney, who got emotional during the ceremony, said the upgrades provide a safe connector, upgrades to academic facilities, access security and enhancements to extracurricular spaces. 

"Just really proud of that," Gibboney said. 

School board president Ed Wilson echoed those sentiments. 

"We are really proud to showcase what we have here at Greencastle School Corporation," Wilson said. 

At Greencastle Middle School and Greencastle High School, the bulk of the upgrades were on display as people mingled around the hallways and into the new and improved areas. Among the upgrades, there is a connector between Greencastle High School and McAnally, as well as an auxiliary gym with two gym floors, a new weight room and wrestling room, improvements to locker room facilities, renovations to the cafeteria, a new commons area, new science labs and library and safer security measures at entrances. 

Gibboney said the renovations will help Greencastle compete, as the district is now home to "6A facilities in a 2A environment."

Gibboney said the commons area is his favorite part of the upgrades.

"If you remember when you first entered the high school, it was closed off, very dark and dated. I feel like when you first walk into those doors at Greencastle High School now, and you're greeted and you see the innovative commons area, you see how it used to be, it is very bright and vibrant... it helps to set the tone for what takes place in our schools," Gibboney told The Putnam County Post. 

Over the last few years, Greencastle students have had to deal with both the COVID-19 global pandemic, as well as construction, something that is not on Gibboney as students and faculty prepare to return Monday for the first day of school. 

"I think they will be relieved in some ways even though some parts have been open. It will feel like they are coming back to a new school because it is all open. The school is ready and the freshmen coming in will be the first cohort to come in from start to finish having this finished," Gibboney said. 

Gibboney said while the ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Greencastle High School, it celebrated all the renovations across the district.