Cloverdale School Board hears diploma update

November's regular meeting of the Cloverdale Community School Corporation (CCSC) Board found members Melissa Carrell, Donna Fidler, Emily Haltom, Katrina Lewis, Joe Mann, Mike Rightmyer II and Vivian Whitaker addressing key personnel matters, as well as hearing an update on the ongoing redesign of Indiana's high school diploma options.

The meeting began shortly after 7 p.m. with the board approving meeting minutes for the executive and regular sessions held October 14, as well as the latest claims and financial reports.

Next, three deserving students were recognized as the corporation's newest Students of the Month. Those honored for the month of November included Cloverdale Elementary student Caydee Johnson, middle school student Jolene Taylor and Cloverdale High School student Emma Wynia.

Cloverdale Town Marshall Adam Hull, who has also taken on the role of School Resource Officer, was in attendance to award the department's first-ever "Good Citizen Award." Fourth-grader Kenley Fidler and eighth-grader Ella Bailey were the inaugural award recipients, with Hull noting the students were recommended by CCSC faculty and administration for displaying "acts and services that resemble what a good citizen should be."

Indiana High School Diploma Update

Cathy Ames, CCSC Director of Curriculum and Instruction, later provided the board with an update regarding the new high school diploma requirements being proposed by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).

"Our overall goal is, by the first of the year we'd like to have a plan in place for new class offerings and potential partnerships for the 2025-26 school year," Ames explained. "Again, this does not have to be totally in place by next year, but when you think about it, our eighth-graders this year, this is what they are going to be graduating by, some form of this new diploma so we can't wait. We are thinking ahead, trying to see what we need to do for our Clovers to make these changes beneficial for them and for their graduation."

Ames shared data showing how the current high school diploma has not been significantly updated in Indiana since the late 1980s. In an effort to better prepare students for the future, the IDOE believes schools must allow them the flexibility to experience work-based learning, earn a credential and personalize their journey to achieve their unique goals.

Ames outlined how the second draft of the proposal to redesign high school diplomas, released by the IDOE in mid-August, incorporated significant updates following months of stakeholder feedback, including feedback provided by CCSC staff.

While the first draft proposal, presented to the State Board of Education (SBOE) in March, included two diploma options, Ames said the revised proposal has been streamlined and simplified to include one base diploma with minimum requirements for every student, as well as the opportunity for students to earn readiness seals aligned with their uniquely chosen path.

Proposed Diploma Structure

The proposed base diploma includes increased flexibility and course options for earning credits in core content areas, such as English, math, science, social studies, physical education and health. In addition to these core content areas, Ames said students will also take personalized electives which can include a variety of courses, such as career and technical education (CTE courses), performing or fine arts and/or languages.

To help students focus their coursework in core content areas and electives, Ames said they will have the option to earn readiness seals in enrollment, employment and/or enlistment.

The IDOE reportedly worked with external stakeholders to develop two levels for each readiness seal:

• Enrollment honors and Enrollment honors plus seals - Developed with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, in conjunction with colleges and universities.

• Employment honors and Employment honors plus seals - Developed with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and insights from Ascend Indiana's work with employers, in conjunction with the business representatives across multiple industries.

• Enlistment honors and Enlistment honors plus seals - Developed with the Indiana National Guard, in conjunction with representatives from each military branch, as well as public safety officials.

The proposed honors seals are similar to the current academic honors designation. According to the IDOE, the honors plus seals are designed to increase skill development, work-based learning experiences and opportunities for students to increase their educational attainment by earning a credential of value.

Under the proposal, students who earn a readiness seal will automatically fulfill all Graduation Pathways requirements. Students who do not earn a seal must still complete components two and three of Graduation Pathways.

Per statute, Indiana's current graduation requirements will sunset Oct. 1, 2028, making final requirements effective for all students beginning with the class of 2029, or students currently in eighth grade. As proposed, schools may opt-in beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Indiana will also continue to offer the federally-required alternate diploma, which is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

Personnel and Financial Matters

In other new business, the board voted unanimously to approve the contractual agreement between CCSC and the Cloverdale Education Association, 7-0.

An eight-percent pay increase for all non-certified employees also received board approval, 7-0, with the exception of instructional assistants who will receive a $2 per hour pay increase.

CCSC Superintendent Greg Linton noted the board approved increasing the substitute teacher pay a few months ago, explaining the additional $2 per hour increase will enable the corporation's substitute teacher pay to remain competitive with other area school districts.

Additionally, the board cast unanimous votes to approve an eight-percent pay increase for administrators, as well a resolution to transfer monies from the Education Fund to the corporation's Operation Fund.

"By State statute, school corporations are permitted to transfer a maximum of 15-percent of the revenue we receive into our Education Fund," Linton explained. "That revenue comes from the number of students we have enrolled in our school corporation. Due to the continued increase in our CDLA (Cloverdale Distance Learning Academy) program - our online school - I am requesting the board to increase our 15-percent transfer from $2,696,208 to $3,000,000 by the end of the calendar year."

Additional Approvals

A stipend for the corporation's executive secretary, Heather Stokes, also received board approval, 7-0. Stokes will receive a $50.76 stipend for each monthly school board meeting.

"She does a great job as the executive secretary, and she also drives a bus, so we are required by the State Board of Accounts to use a blended (pay) rate," Linton explained. "We were running into a situation where the two hours she receives for (each) board meeting was complicating (matters), so I'm requesting the board meetings be separated and paid as a stipend."

A $7,500 stipend for the corporation's newly-created director of guidance position also received unanimous board approval.

"I asked our administrative team to get together to take a look at our guidance program, knowing that we probably needed to get a little bit more organized with the new high school diploma and the requirements that will create," Linton explained. "We added the ninth grade to our CDLA program this year and plan to add one additional grade each year until we have a K-12 program. That will require a substantial amount of additional work, so I'm requesting to essentially create a Director of Guidance position and for Ms. Sara Howard to fill that position with an additional $7,500 stipend for that role and the additional responsibilities that she will assume."

Other new business addressed and unanimously approved by the board included the acceptance of three donations for Cloverdale High School, as well as cash transfer-ins related to the addition of nine students who enrolled in the corporation since the board's previous meeting in October. Linton noted CCSC has seen a total of 16 additional students enroll since the start of the 2024-25 school year.

The board also voted in favor of 16 professional leave requests, three field trip requests and nine facility use requests.

Personnel Changes

Additional personnel matters receiving unanimous board approval included:

Resignation:

• Michael Richards, Cloverdale High School (CHS) Student Council sponsor.

Employment:

• Tyce Jackson, Cloverdale Middle School (CMS) part-time athletic director.

• Grayce Burdette, Cloverdale Elementary School (CES) special education instructional assistant.

• Grayce Burdette, CES art teacher, 2025-26 school year.

• Tori Maldonado, Knoy Resource Center part-time teacher.

• Sonny Stoltz, CHS Student Council sponsor.

• Brent Sailor, CHS Student Council sponsor assistant.

FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act):

• Holly Watkins, CMS medical instructional assistant.

• Lori Halloran, CMS teacher.

• Sandi Price, CES teacher.

• Debra Warfel, music teacher.

Coaching Resignations:

• Kim Bailey, seventh grade basketball coach.

• Paige Glassburn, varsity volleyball coach.

• Ken Schnepp, girls' track coach/assistant cross country coach.

• Michael Glassburn, girls' junior varsity basketball coach.

Coaching Hires:

• Debbie Steffy, CMS eighth grade girls' basketball coach.

• Autumn Lewellen, CHS junior varsity girls' basketball coach.

• Kiley Cope, CHS assistant softball coach.

Volunteer:

• David Moore, CHS wrestling volunteer assistant coach.

The Cloverdale Community School Board will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9 in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Center, 310 E. Logan St., in Cloverdale.