CCSC moves toward leadership transition

Annexation and policy updates approved by seven-member board

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees balanced a full agenda during its March 9 meeting, tackling everything from property annexation and policy updates to the upcoming search for a new district leader.

With all seven board members in attendance, the session served as a pivotal bridge between routine administration and future planning.

Under routine matters, the board voted to approve meeting minutes for executive and regular sessions held on Feb. 9, as well as a work session that took place Feb. 21.

Superintendent Greg Linton presented the latest claims and financial reports, which totaled $3,428,406.62. This figure includes two payroll cycles since the board's previous meeting on Feb. 9.

Also under routine matters, the board voted unanimously to approve Board Policies Volume 38, No. 1.

In a unanimous 7-0 vote, the board approved the voluntary annexation of school-owned property by the Town of Cloverdale. The request involves a portion of the bus barn parking lot and the north parking lot adjacent to Cloverdale Elementary School (CES).

Superintendent Linton noted that the move is largely administrative.

"Since the school corporation does not pay property taxes, there is no financial issue to consider," Linton said, adding that these parcels were the only remaining school lands not officially within town limits.

An early retirement benefit for a non-collective bargaining employee was also approved.

"One of our employees who is not a part of the collective bargaining agreement is nearing retirement," Linton explained. "This benefit is similar to others we've had for employees in similar [situations]."

The council also voted to approve Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) Homebound Instructors; special education (SPED) teacher stipends; an additional special education teacher at CMS; a CES, CMS Summer Stipend Day for ILEARN teachers; and donations to CMS and Cloverdale High School (CHS).

Additionally, approval was given to declare the old CHS softball fencing as surplus.

The most significant news of the evening was centered on the district's top office.

Board President Vivian Whitaker announced a formal update to Board Policy 12-2020 to align with Indiana Code 20-26-5-4.3, a move necessary for the hiring of a new superintendent.

Linton, the current superintendent, recently announced he will step down from the role [retire] to lead the Cloverdale Distance Learning Academy (CDLA).

"We will be hiring a new superintendent in May to begin work on July 1st," explained board president Vivian Whitaker. "Our current policy is out of date. The current code allows us to, at least 10 days before we hire a new superintendent, host a meeting where we can allow comments from the public concerning the terms of the contract. It does not allow [the public] to vote on whether you like the terms."

The board expects to officially name Linton's successor during the May 11 meeting.

The board also took time to celebrate excellence within the district:

Students of the Month: Charlotte Page (CES), Gage Green (CMS), and Ella Dicken (CHS).

Staff Member of the Month: Karen Bessell, instructional assistant at CES.

Citizens of the Month: Kori Mescall and Kaiden Eggers, recognized by School Resource Officer (SRO) Roger Tonna.

In addition, the board approved the following professional leave, field trip and facility use requests:

Professional Leave Requests

Feb. 10 – Carolyn Hall, ACRS, CMS. Feb. 17 – Jamie Nees, Educating Exceptional Children, Bloomington. Feb. 20 & 27 – Megan Schroeder, professional leave plan, CMS. Feb. 26 – Nicole Campbell, Beyond Survival Workshop, Area 30 Career Center. March 3 – Heather Clingan, Plant, Plug and Greenhouse Supplies Auction, Rockville. March 6 – Megan Schroeder, professional leave plan, CMS. March 10 – Kelley Tyler and Sarah Fuhrman, Snails to Trails planning day, CMS. March 13 & 20 – Megan Schroeder, professional leave plan, CMS. April 1 – Karl Turk, JAG field trip, Indiana University Indianapolis. April 3, 10 & 17 – Megan Schroeder, professional leave plan, CMS. April 14 – Megan Puckett, IN Summit on Out of School Learning for Knoy, Plainfield. April 20 & 24 – Megan Schroeder, ILEARN testing, CMS. April 21 – Nicole Campbell, Chronic Disruptive Behavior K-12 Training, Central Indiana Educational Service Center, Indianapolis. April 21 & 23 – Tori Maldonado, ILEARN testing, CMS. April 24 – Carolyn Hall, Praxis, Terre Haute. April 24 & 28-30 – ILEARN testing, CMS. April 27-30 – ILEARN testing, CMS. April 28-30 – Jamie Steffy, ILEARN testing, CMS. June 15-18 – Indiana FFA State Convention, Fishers.

Field Trips

April 1 – Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) students, Indiana University Indianapolis. April 10 – CHS juniors and seniors, Area 30 Career Center, Greencastle. April 23 – CMS seventh grade class, Indianapolis Indians game, Indianapolis. May 7 – CMS sixth grade class, Bogeys Family Fun Center, Terre Haute. May 15 – CMS fifth grade class, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. May 15 – CMS eighth grade class, Chicago, Illinois. May 26-28 – FFA chapter officers, Indiana FFA Leadership Center, Trafalgar. June 3 – FFA students, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, IN. June 15-18 – FFA students, FFA State Convention, Fishers, IN.

Facility Use

Feb. 24 – Parent/player team meeting, Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL), CMS library. March 14 – Youth Camp, Cloverdale baseball, CHS auxiliary gymnasium. April 1 – Family Night for incoming freshmen, CMS cafeteria. April 8 – Family Night for incoming seventh and eighth graders, CMS cafeteria. April 9-10 – Pictures, CCYL, CES. April 29 – National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, CHS cafetorium. May 15 – FFA Banquet, CHS cafetorium.

Resignations

Tamera Moy – CMS cafeteria. Lori Halloran – CMS eighth grade team lead and Student Council sponsor. Christianey Williams – CMS instructional assistant.

Employment

Nancy Collins – CES temporary support. Beth Williams – CMS temporary support. Sarah Fuhrman – Snails to Trails co-sponsor. Kelley Tyler – Snails to Trails co-sponsor.

Additional Personnel

FMLA: Gwen Stattner – CHS secretary. Maria Skiles – CHS teacher. Termination: Savannah Smith – CMS instructional assistant. Coaching Hires: Aubree Branigan – CMS boys' track coach. Ken Schnepp – CHS assistant cross-country coach.

The Cloverdale School Board—consisting of Vivian Whitaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann and Mike Rightmyer II—is scheduled to meet again on Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building, 310 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.