CCSC board approves executive secretary, special ed items

CLOVERDALE – With the impending retirement of a staff member in the administration office at Cloverdale Schools, as well as seeing a need for another special education teacher, the Cloverdale School Board addressed both positions during its regular meeting Monday evening.

With the retirement of Lynn Lotz, who has worked as the executive secretary and in other jobs within the school corporation, Supt. Greg Linton said that her position would be “realigned” with a different job description, as changes have been made regarding its responsibilities.

In approving the job description, Duane Huge gave the only dissenting vote. It was unclear why Huge opposed the description.

The board also approved a special education teacher at Cloverdale Middle School for the 2022-23 school year. Linton noted that after meeting with Principal Dawn Tucker, it was decided that an additional position is needed as student numbers in special education classes continue to increase.

In other business:

• The board approved handbooks for Cloverdale Elementary School and Cloverdale Middle School, as well as one for support staff. While corrections were made to the two school books, Linton said it had been several years since the one for support staff had been reviewed by the board. As such, he said the primary addition pertained to using timeclocks.

• The board approved textbook fees for the three school buildings for next school year. Linton said the most significant update was the addition of Chromebooks at Cloverdale Elementary School. Otherwise, he said that fees generally increased.

• The board approved a plan for summer school program for English, mathematics, social studies and science. It will be held between May 31 to June 17 from 8-11:15 a.m. Linton noted that there will be five pickup points for transportation.

• The board approved a paving project to be completed over the summer. Linton said the school corporation had received two bids, ultimately going with West Central Asphalt Resealing for $141,900. The repairs will include sealing cracks, restriping and milling a section of pavement.

• The board approved bids for food service received from the West Indy Coop, a purchasing cooperative that assists in procuring food and meeting health standards, for next school year. Linton commented that the bids were “substantially better” than they have been previously.

• The board also recognized two of Cloverdale Schools’ Students of the Month in Nathaniel Gregg (Cloverdale Elementary School) and Aliecia Renner (Cloverdale Middle School). Cloverdale High School’s Corey Branigan could not attend due to baseball, but is to be recognized next month.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

Resignations: Adrian Martin – CES music teacher and CMS/CHS choir teacher; and Kenneth Schnepp – cross country coach;

Employment: Katie Bonnoront – fifth-grade teacher; Kathy Salter – CMS instructional assistant; and Karl Turk and Dana Lorenze – CHS summer school.

The board as such approved an unpaid leave of absence. The identity of the staff member in question was not specified.

Mike Rightmyer was the only board member absent. Meanwhile, Linton was joined by the rest of the board and Sara Zaring, who has filled in for Lotz.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale School Board is set for Monday, June 6 at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Office near Cloverdale High School. This will be one week earlier than usual.