Cloverdale board looking toward more improvements

CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale School Board met for its monthly meeting on Monday evening, during which it discussed the possibility of more improvements being done throughout the corporation.

Project Manager Dan Sulkoske came before the board to inform them that the recently completed drainage project has officially passed the final inspection. As requested by Superintendent Carrie Milner, Sulkoske also presented the board with an itemized list of improvements based on urgency. Included in the list were addressing the drainage issues surrounding the football field, resurfacing the track, issues at the administration building as well as replacing the damaged and deteriorating pipes.

"The track resurfacing is still not recommended until this issue around your football field is addressed," Sulkoske said. "It's believed by the engineer that the water is coming down from the parking lot and the baseball field is causing the problems you're having with the track."

Milner advised the board that the corporation addressed the piece that was the most urgent with the recently completed drainage project, but there are still more issues that needed to be looked at.

"This (the list) gives us the information we need somewhere along the line to say 'yes we must address one area or the other,'" Milner said. "I would look at the high school paving. We've got some interesting little dips and holes. That could be a separate project, I believe in the budget we put certain amounts of dollars aside for asphalt and repaving. So, we might be able to do a portion of these without it being a major project."

Sulkoske noted that just like past project it's been set up in phases to give the board the option of picking and choosing what items it'd like done at the time.

At this time, the board is currently reviewing the information. Sulkoske noted however, that this is the ideal time to start designing and preparing for the next phase of improvements.

Milner also gave the board an update on the Western Indiana Knoy Center by providing members of the board with a recent evaluation of the 21 Century Learning Program, which not only focuses on the areas in need of improvement, but those that are doing well.

The evaluation also identified the numbers of participants from each of the twenty consortium high schools included in the CCSC Western Indiana Knoy Grant as well as addressed college/career readiness measures, professional development, curriculum and programmatic accomplishments.

"As you know we have state and federal grants. The paper work is phenomenal and I mean that in the best way, " Milner explained. "It's demanding, but it also insists that what we put together we can sustain, we can recognize our strong points and areas for improvement."

Milner noted that the Knoy program as a whole, which exists in 20 schools throughout Indiana, is doing very well. However there are areas in need of improvement.

"I believe we have two years, maybe three years left on this grant," Milner said. "It provides transportation for students, programs in the morning as well as in the afternoon for remediation and enrichment. It's just plain fun. It's been an amazing program, the fact that we've been able to sustain it is great."

Milner added that she expects to have an RFP for an additional 21st Century Learning Communities Grant out in October that will extend the Western Indiana Knoy High School Consortium.

In other business:

*The board also recognized elementary school student Prezton Jannings, middle school student Jonathan Wagoner and high school student Chasity Durden as its September students of the month.

* The board approved the hirings of high school instructional assistant Alethea Mann, coordinator Diana Meo, part-time high school custodians Donna McFadden and Amanda Long. The resignations of Superintendent Milner, high school custodian Billy Stierwalt, high school varsity assistant basketball coach Bonnie Helterbrand and cafeteria employee Jennifer Weist.

* The board approved the reassignment of Maria Skiles as the high school Ag instructor for the remainder of the semester as well as Courtney DeWeese as elementary special education teacher.

* The board approved the hiring of Patrick Rady as the middle school girls track coach, Sam Brown as the middle school boys track coach, Holly Frye as the high school girls varsity assistant basketball coach, Chad Koosman as the middle school volunteer assistant cross country coach, Crystal Deal as the middle school assistant cheer coach.

*The board accepted a $1,000 (each) donation made to both Cloverdale Elementary School and Cloverdale Middle School from local residents and retired educators Mr. and Mrs. Howard Berliner. The money will be used for student activities and/or projects.