Athletic facility changes continue

CLOVERDALE - The board heard a report delivered by Dan Sulkoske of Kramer and Kramer, a project management company, on improvements to the school corporation's athletic facilities.

After moving and installing a new salt bin, Sulkoske is now focused on repairing the track and installing a stormwater curb on the northeast corner of the football field. In its current state, the track has minor cracks from dry rotting that could be filled in, but the rubber needs replacing.

In regard to the stormwater curb, Sulkoske said, "Does this solve your problem completely? I don't know. This is the last part of the football drainage. There is a guarantee solution (you can use), aside from this."

"But we don't like the price tag on the guarantee," Vice President Donna Fidler said with a laugh.

"I was here before the meeting," Chris Mann commented, "and it looks like a pretty good design you've got set up."

The board approved Superintendent Greg Linton's suggestion of repairing the track first, then installing the curb. Final board approval on the track repairs and the football field drainage will be considered at the next meeting after the plans have been reviewed by an engineer.

If the board approves, the track repairs, which are expected to take no longer than two weeks weather-permitting, will take place in July.

In other developments:

-- Jaci Maynard (Cloverdale Elementary School, 2nd grade) was named April's Student of the Month.

-- Abby Hilton (Cloverdale Elementary School, 3rd grade); Kayla Kyle (Cloverdale Middle School, 7th grade) and Kaylyn Couch (Cloverdale High School, freshman) were named the May Students of the Month.

-- The board approved the student handbook for all three schools and the athletic handbook for 2016-17. Superintendent Linton said there were no changes from the last handbooks.

-- The board approved the addition of another high school physical education summer course to reduce class sizes. Superintendent Linton said the cost would be reimbursed by a grant from the Indiana Department of Education.

-- The board approved the band program's summer schedule, which included practices for the Washington, D.C. trip.

-- The board approved adopting new math textbooks for the elementary and middle school, which hadn't been done in 12 years. With the adoption came an increase in textbook rental fees, which the board also approved.

Although prices increased between $14 and $26 per grade level, Superintendent Linton said Cloverdale parents would still pay about the same prices as parents from other schools in Putnam County.

The new total costs for the elementary grades are: $104.34 (kindergarten); $101.14 (1st grade); $93.44 (2nd grade); $121.99 (3rd grade); $112.34 (fourth); $124.32 (fifth) and $148.99 (sixth). The middle school costs depend on the student's classes.

The new prices will be fixed for six years, according to the contracts held by Ready Mathematics and Glencoe McGraw-Hill.

-- The board approved an increase of 10 cents in school breakfast and lunch prices, as requested by Food Service Director Billy Boyette. The increase is part of the effort to bring prices up to the state recommendation of $3.07 because the school corporation is reimbursed for each free lunch they provide each day.

"It's something we don't like to do," Superintendent Linton said," but we have no choice at this point."

Superintendent Linton said the new prices will still be similar to those paid in other Putnam County schools.

-- The board approved the retirement of Music Educator William (Bill) Cole, which will be official July 5.

"It'll be bittersweet," Principal Sonny Stoltz said. "It'll be a big shift at the high school. He's a big part of the process in the school system. We've got our hands full to find someone to replace him. We're going to miss him."

Secretary Vivian Whitaker said, "You will not find a better person to handle kids of all ages. What he's teaching them will go a long way."

"If you wanted to be in band," Superintendent Linton added, "you could be in band. Bill would find a place for you. I think that's why our band program is as good as it is."

The Cloverdale Community School Corporation will host a reception for Cole on May 27 at 1 p.m. in the media center.

In other business:

-- The board heard the first reading of Volume 28 No. 1 and Policy 5840. Policy 5840 is a gang policy required by the Indiana General Assembly. Volume 28 No. 1 is part of the school corporation's general policy. Both are set for a second reading and approval at the next board meeting, after which Policy 5840 will be added to Volume 28 No. 1.

-- The board approved the following personnel changes:

-- Hire: Audrie Grimes (high school, summer school English teacher); Heather Nees (high school, summer school teacher); Dakota Jones (high school, summer program band music arranger); Angela Raisor (high school, summer program band guard instructor); Jake Stipanovic (summer, part-time); Holly Ford (summer, part-time); Debbie Atwood (summer, part-time); Jamie Porter (summer, part-time); Dalton Atwood (summer, part-time); Taylor Jones (summer, part-time) and Sharon Porter (elementary and middle school, part-time cafeteria).

-- Maternity leave: Megan Puckett (elementary school, teacher).

-- Resignation: Kyle Ellis (high school, technology/media center) and Keith Troxal (elementary and middle school, cafeteria).

-- Daniel Hofman was absent.

The next board meeting will be June 14 at 7 p.m in the Cloverdale Schools Administration Building.