Cloverdale Schools entering phase two of lighting upgrade

CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale School Board approved the go-ahead on the second phase in the lighting upgrade with Energy Harness.

The total cost of phase II is estimated at $76,550.15 with a $9,476 rebate from Energy Harness.

The project will include all lights inside and outside except the sports facilities. The job will be complete next month.

In other developments:

-- School calendar: The board approved the 2017-18 school calendar, which Superintendent Greg Linton said was nearly identical to the current calendar.

-- TALKS program: Daniel Hofmann announced that he plans to begin the TALKS (Transferring a Little Knowledge Systematically) program at Cloverdale High School.

“Basically what occurs is we have a partnership, a mentor, and three mentees who we partner up,” Hofmann said, “and they go through the curriculum and teach them life skills that they’ll be able to utilize not only in their future career, but in future education pursuits and just general life skills. So, it’s a really beneficial program because, like I said, it’s going to be, hopefully, changing these kids’ future and giving them these life skills that they otherwise probably would not get to.”

Hofmann went on to say that the program had already been implemented at Rockville Jr.-Sr. High School, and that bullying had decreased, graduation rates had increased and grades had improved as a result.

-- Personnel report: The board approved the following personnel report:

-- Hire: Jessica Dillman (CES/CMS, part-time cafeteria), Angela Rightmyer (CHS part-time cafeteria), Steve Caulkins (CMS softball coach) and Tony Evans (wrestling assistant coach)

-- Volunteer: Brody Pfaff, Chase Haltom, Michael Neese, Jacob Clark and Brandon Moon (CHS boys’ basketball assistant), Paige Gruener (girls’ basketball assistant) and Chris Kaufman (CMS wrestling assistant)

-- Resignation: Valerie Garrison (CES instructional assistant) and Kathy Moore (CHS head volleyball coach)

-- Retirement: Mary Jo Bookwalter (CES special education teacher)

“I would like to take the time to thank Kathy Moore for her 12 years as the head varsity volleyball coach,” Principal Sonny Stoltz said, with the board’s unanimous agreement. “She had some health issues this year and she decided that it’s in her best interest to no longer be coach, but we do appreciate all the time and effort she’s put into it the last few years.”

-- Students of the Month: Nathan Mann (fourth grade), Brian Burns (sixth grade) and Annika Whitlock (junior).

-- Additional appropriations: The board approved the transfer of $62,100 to the debt service fund.

-- Claims: The board approved the total claims at $828,671.95, a decrease of $487,824.52 from last month and of $8,321.01 from the April-October average.

-- Absences: President Duane Huge and Rob Schroer were absent.