CHS to crack down on cell phone use

CLOVERDALE -- Cell phones have invaded Cloverdale High School. To combat the problem, the school is stepping up its cell phone policy.

CHS Principal Sonny Stoltz went before the school board during its regular meeting Monday to discuss a more strict policy.

He told the board members there have been 141 -- or 23 to 24 percent of the student body -- first-time offenders caught with the devices since the beginning of the school year. Eight percent of students are habitual offenders.

"We still have March, April and May to get through," he said.

The current policy is not proactive, Stoltz told the board.

Under the new policy, parents will be called to pick up the phone the first time a student is caught with it. The second time would carry some consequences for the student.

While students are being told no cell phones allowed, adults are urged to do the same.

"We can't tell the kids not use them, but have adults use them during instruction or class time," Stoltz added.

The board agreed cell phones create a distraction in the classroom.

"Every high school student has a cell phone," said Superintendent Carrie Milner. "There is no reason to have them at school."

Students will be seeing new signs posted around the building warning them cell phones are not allowed during school hours.

In other news, Cedar Woodworth won an essay contest. Woodworth is an eight-grade student at the middle school and participates in the Gateway to Engineering class at the Knoy Center.

Her essay, Plastics in Education, earned her $50 and $100 for the teacher to use in the classroom. The Gateway class is a yearlong course and precedes other high school courses. It is one of five middle school programs in the state.

Other programs at the Knoy Center are receiving some monetary help. The GED program was given a $2,000 grant from Teacher's Credit Union.

"A large number of students have taken advantage of (the GED program)," stated Milner.

In addition, the board approved a donation from Donor's Choose, which will be used to purchase new microscopes.

Other business:

* Milner gave a legislative update stating there will be guidelines on use of the one-time stimulus money. It will mostly be used for programs such as special education and Title I.

* The CCYL concession stand will be ready for use in time for the first girls' softball game in April. Stoltz reported water was put in place this past weekend and plumbing is finished. The lift station will be done at the end of the week and restrooms will be completed before April. It is essentially halfway finished right now. Work such as drywall and partitions will be done at a later date.

"We are excited," Stoltz said.

* PTO president Angela Ladd requested permission from the board to build a storage shed for large preschool equipment. The equipment is only used on certain occasions and takes up a huge portion of the preschool area. "Dad's for Great Students" will build the airtight shed near the preschool playground. Specific details will be provided to the board at a later time.

* Changes are being made to the school corporation's wellness policy. It has asked anyone with suggestions for changes to the policy, e-mail kcrabtree@cloverdale.k12.in.us before April 1.

* Personnel changes approved by the board include the employment of Maggi Wallace as an elementary teaching assistant. High school coaching includes Kyle Winkler as assistant track coach, Ramfus Guterraz and Brian Knapp as volunteer assistant coaches for softball and Matt Langdon as volunteer assistant coach for boys' golf. Debbie Leonard will be the administrative assistant for CCLC under the 21st Century Grant.