Cloverdale School Board moves forward on lease updates, personnel changes, and fund appropriation

From students earning monthly accolades to discussions on facility leases and district growth, the Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board of School Trustees packed a busy agenda into their regular monthly meeting Oct. 12 at the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Center. Four of the seven board members were present, with Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, and Mike Rightmyer II absent from the meeting.

Before turning to its regular business, the board paused to celebrate community standouts by honoring students and staff for their positive impact on the district. This month’s honorees included Students of the Month Brynlee Dorman from Cloverdale Elementary School, Austin Vermillion from Cloverdale Middle School (CMS), and Thomas Hamilton from Cloverdale High School (CHS). Rounding out the recognitions, CMS teacher Megan Schroeder was named Staff of the Month.

In routine matters, the board voted 3-0-1 to approve minutes from the pre-bargaining public hearing held Sept. 9 and executive and regular sessions held Sept. 14.

Acting on a request from CCSC Superintendent Dr. Stacy Mason, the board approved claims totaling $2,934,147.06, along with two payrolls amounting to $3,697,570.67.

The board also updated its district guidelines by conducting its second reading of Board Policies Volume 36, No. 2, Volume 38, No. 2, the Special Update from July 2025, and the Special Update on Artificial Intelligence from June 2026. The board voted unanimously to approve the updated policy package.

In new business, the board held official public hearings concerning district finances, opening the floor for community input on a proposed lease and additional appropriations. Following the hearings, where no one in the audience requested to speak, board members moved to adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of an amendment to the lease.

Additionally, the board unanimously approved a resolution assigning construction bids and contracts to the building corporation once received, a resolution approving a supplement to the master continuing disclosure undertaking, and an additional appropriation resolution for the Education Fund totaling 6.5 million dollars.

“Although these funds are currently available within the Education Fund’s cash balance, formal authorization is required to expend them for anticipated year-end obligations,” Dr. Mason explained.

“It’s my understanding that we do not plan to use the entire 6.5 million dollars, probably less than a half million [dollars] at best, but so that we don’t have to come back and have future hearings and resolutions we have gone to the max on this one,” board president Vivian Whitaker added.

The board also accepted the 2026-27 High Ability Grant in the amount of $40,601.25.

On the operational side, trustees approved two homebound instructors for CMS and authorized an additional student worker position within the Clover Café.

“Student workers play a vital role in ensuring that the coffee shop and café at the high school remain successful and sustainable,” Dr. Mason explained. “We recommend compensating student workers at a rate of $30 per shift with a maximum of one shift per day. This specific student will be working in the café as part of a work-based learning experience.”

The board also formally accepted three donations/grants for CHS totaling $1,000 and approved several routine professional leave requests.

Trustees reviewed and approved several upcoming field trips for district students. Scheduled excursions include the Forestry and Wildlife Management class visiting Spring Mill State Park and Greencastle on Oct. 20-21, freshmen attending an experience at Area 30 on Oct. 21, and FFA students traveling to Indianapolis from October 21-23. Additional approved trips feature the Digital Photography class visiting the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point on Oct. 22, the CMS Spell Bowl team heading to the regional competition on Nov. 4, and FFA students bowling in Greencastle on Nov. 13.

The board additionally processed a slate of facility use requests for district spaces. Approved facility uses include the CMS PTO holding a fall meeting in the media center on Sept. 28, and the Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL) hosting a basketball coaches meeting and draft in the library on Oct. 1, as well as a fall sports awards and pizza party in the high school cafetorium on Oct. 5. Later facility use approvals cover a teacher painting party in the CES cafeteria and a student council Halloween dance in the CMS gym on Oct. 28 and Oct. 30, CCYL boys’ youth basketball games in the CHS gym and auxiliary gym on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14, CCYL championship games in the CMS gym on Dec. 12, and CCYL girls’ basketball events in the CHS gym and auxiliary gym on Jan. 16, 2027.

The board also approved several personnel requests, including resignations, new hires, and a termination. Resignations were accepted for Aliyah Maldonado as a CMS instructional assistant, Wanda Thompson as a part-time four-hour café worker, and Britney Manuel as a part-time CHS custodian. On the hiring front, the district welcomed Kyle McComas as CHS Spanish instructor and Katie Gillaspy as a part-time Knoy teacher. The board also approved the termination of bus driver Abbie Kenworthy.

In athletic and coaching assignments, the board noted the resignation of CMS cheer coach Sydney Campbell. To fill athletic vacancies and bolster programs, trustees approved Anthony Vermillion as CMS football coach, Amanda Hull as the seventh grade girls’ basketball coach, Jason Flory as the eighth grade girls’ basketball coach, Chloe McGhiey as the seventh and eighth grade cheer coach, and both Mcguire Lee and JT Yoho as CHS boys’ basketball volunteer assistants.

The Cloverdale School Board will hold its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Building. Board members include Vivian Whitaker, Katrina Lewis, Donna Fidler, Melissa Carrell, Emily Haltom, Joe Mann, and Mike Rightmyer II.