Cloverdale board bids farewell to 2 board members

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale School Board met for its last meeting of 2014 on Monday evening to not only wrap up some final routine issues such as approving the 2015-16 school calendar, but to say farewell to two longtime board members.

Following months of discussion, Superintendent Greg Linton came before the board to seek approval of the 2015-16 school calendar. Not having varied much from this year's calendar, the board had little discussion before unanimously approving it.

Attempting to stay as in line as possible with other area corporations, the first faculty day will be on Thursday, Aug. 6 with students having their first day on Monday, Aug. 10. Once again, students will have a week-long fall break on Oct. 12-16 as well as spring break on March 21-25 before ending school on Thursday, May 26 with graduation on May 28.

"This calendar is very similar to the one we have this year," Linton said. "We had discussions about a few different things and at the end of the day, the vast majority of the teachers like this year's calendar and asked that we continue on that course."

Linton also advised the board that late last week, the corporation received its performance award money from the Indiana Department of Education, which totaled $33,556.15.

"This was something new this year that the state made available to schools that qualified," Linton said. "All three of the Cloverdale schools qualified since all three schools made an 'A' in addition to the school corporation."

The funds will be divided evenly between all certified staff members who received a highly effective score on last year's, 2014-15 evaluation.

"I want to congratulate those teachers," Linton added. "I also want to thank the IDOE for the extra funding."

During the meeting, the board also heard from Cloverdale High School student Taylor Goss about the corporation's recent Christmas Toy Drive, which was held on Thursday, Dec. 4.

Each year, the annual toy drive, which was hosted by Cloverdale High School FFA, South Putnam Student Council and the North Putnam FFA, aims to provide those who may be less fortunate with Christmas presents.

"This year we helped 531 kids and we gave each of them two presents or one big item," Goss explained. "This year, we had bikes (30) that the Putnamville Correctional Facility donated."

Goss noted that along with the larger presents, children also received hats, gloves, books as well as some stocking stuffers. Overall, the event was a major success and thanks to the overwhelming amount of donations they were able to help 35 more children than the previous year.

Goss also took time to advise the board about Cloverdale FFA's 10th annual livestock judging contest, which will be held on March 7. Among the animals to be judged are pigs, sheep, cattle and goats.

"Last year we had more than 300 students come from all over the state," Goss added.

Closing out the meeting, Linton took some time to recognize the corporation's two departing board members, Pamelia Hepfer, who served 11 years, and Brian Asbury, who served for three-and-a-half.

"I know that from talking to both individuals, not only have then been very involved with the school system even prior to being board members, but during their time on the board they have made positive contributions to the district and the students," Linton explained. "They've left us in good shape. I know through talking with them, they'll continue to be active members in the community and be supportive of the school."

In closing out his final meeting as a school board member, Asbury took some time to point out some issues he hopes incoming board members will address to better help all of Cloverdale's students.

"I'd like to welcome the new members to the board. I'd also like to take this opportunity to challenge the new board," Asbury said. "I believe we need to find more ways to help the top half of our kids. So much time and money has been spent on the bottom half in the last few years, that it has led to our seniors having some of the lowest SAT scores in the state, which has impacted their ability to get scholarships, most notability the Lily Scholarship. It's also affected them getting into the colleges of choice. They have pretty much been ignored."

Asbury went on to add that he challenges the board to not only get more involved with the community by doing such things as creating and participating in various committees, but to work at making the teachers happier and in turn the student body, in which Asbury credited Linton for starting that process.

"I'd like for our teachers to be treated better," Asbury said. "This one, I believe has already begun thanks to Greg. When the teachers are happy it can only help our kids in the classroom.

"I can't speak to why the other board members ran, but I ran for leadership change, stronger curriculum for advanced kids and to strengthen our athletic department. I ran so I had a voice," Asbury explained. "My advice to you taxpayers is to not get discouraged. The most important election is coming up in two years. I hope the turnout is as big as this last one was. Lastly, I challenge you the parents. Get involved with your kids. Hold the teachers and administrators accountable. Only good things can come of it."

Having a similar view to Asbury, Hepfer thanked the board for a "wonderful 11 years" as well as pleading to its new members to not only focus on the higher ability children, but to maintain focus on those who may be struggling as well.

"It really doesn't seem like it's been 11 years," Hepfer noted. "I've really enjoyed it. I love seeing the success of the kids. I too think the higher ability kids have been a little neglected and that's a shame. I also know we have an awful lot of kids that are struggling in school. They still need our help with reading and understanding math. I think when there are seniors that can't read that's a shame, but I think this corporation has been great and supportive of the teachers and the students and the board has been really good."

In other business:

* The Cloverdale School Board honored fourth-grader Erin Johnson, seventh-grader Emily Byford and senior Hannah Mann as its December Students of the Month.

* The board also approved the hiring of middle school part-time cafeteria employees Marcia Vaughn, Donna Sommer and Angela Rightmyer along with middle school part-time cafeteria stockroom worker Keith Troxal.

* The board also approved Kurt Kyle as the middle school head wrestling coach.

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