Cloverdale adjusts graduation requirements

CLOVERDALE -- Beginning with the freshman class of 2014, Cloverdale High School will require fewer credits to graduate.

During the regular school board meeting Monday, CHS principal Sonny Stoltz said it would take a minimum of 43 credits instead of the 45 credits currently required to graduate.

All general education requirements will remain the same, but two elective credits will be dropped. Board members approved the change with a vote of 5-0 with Tony Hacker abstaining.

In other business, the board discussed the fact that the Cloverdale School Corp. will be losing six of its teachers due to retirement at the end of this academic year -- Judith Clark, middle and high school careers, math and Gateway to Technology; Rita Fish, high school art; Thomas Jonke, fourth grade; Philip Kirby, middle school science; Sherry Snuffin, first grade; and Linda Treadway, fourth grade.

Other personnel changes discussed included the resignation of Megan Nees as database manager and the hiring of Brenda Johnson, part-time database manager; Zachary Remsburg, summer nature trail; Laura Pruitt, summer inventory; and Julie Beatty, seventh and eighth grade volunteer cheerleading assistant.

Board members voted to accept the personnel report with a vote of 5-0 with Barbara Nees abstaining.

In other business:

* The last student day will be May 28 with graduation at 4 p.m. May 29 in the high school gym.

Summer school will start immediately and Knoy Camp will be June 7-25.

* Next year's middle schools students will be given the opportunity to take a three-day, two-night trip to Washington D.C. during spring break.

The cost of the trip will be $460 for students and $529 for parents. The price includes transportation by charter bus, hotel accommodations, breakfast and dinner and all admission fees.

Worldstrides, the travel company, will provide a tour guide, night chaperones to monitor hotel hallways, accident and health insurance and 24-hour emergency support.

* Cloverdale School Corp. holds two endowments and a scholarship fund with the Putnam County Community Foundation. Superintendent Carrie Milner said the Knoy endowment is at $26,135, the corporation endowment is at $33,502 and the scholarship fund is at $102,000.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution to any of the funds can call PCCF at 653-4978.