Cloverdale’s CCLC program to continue with renewability

CLOVERDALE -- Thanks to the support of staff and partners, the after-school program at Cloverdale Schools’ Knoy Resource Center will continue to serve elementary and middle school students.

By taking advantage of a renewability option, Cloverdale’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program is to be funded through 2025.

Cloverdale Middle School Principal Dawn Tucker, who is also the program’s director, covered those efforts and what CCLC is meant to provide during the Cloverdale School Board’s regular session Monday evening.

The CCLC program is federally-funded and aimed at providing students with constructive after-school activities. These can include homework help, enrichment, service learning and mentoring. Adult family members are to also engage with their students through these opportunities.

Jackie Ramesay is the program’s site coordinator, while Mendy Shrout is the treasurer. The program also utilizes three bus drivers and nine teachers from the elementary and middle schools, as well as instructional assistants.

Partners include DePauw University, Purdue Extension and Transformers through Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church.

“We try to do as much community outreach as possible,” Tucker said, but added that COVID-19 -- as with this year’s numbers -- has impacted some of their activities.

The program has on average served 50-60 students from Cloverdale Elementary and 45 students from Cloverdale Middle School. However, respectively, 35 students and 40 students have participated from August to October 2020.

The program is currently in Year 3 of a four-year cohort. It has received $190,428 for Years 1 and 3 and will be given the same in Year 4, while it received $192,890 in Year 2.

Tucker noted that it does not draw funding from sources other than from the main CCLC administration. However, Cloverdale was offered the option to apply for a renewing of the $190,428 through 2025.

After meeting requirement expectations in the areas of grant administration, finances, data reporting and programs, Cloverdale was awarded this renewal. Only 38 percent of Indiana programs were offered the option.

Tucker emphasized that this option was likely to be a one-time deal. This was better than trying to apply again amid competition from other programs, and thus not be sure whether Cloverdale would get more or less money.

“It speaks volumes as to why we got renewed,” Superintendent Greg Linton said, noting that the program has continued to thrive under Tucker’s leadership and dedication.

In other business:

• Linton announced that the board and CCSC’s teachers association had reached a tentative contract agreement between the parties.

The board also recognized the following Students of the Month:

• Cloverdale Elementary School: Adryana Oberkrom

• Cloverdale Middle School: Rhianne Erb

• Cloverdale High School: Bailey Sanders

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignations: Laura Blocker - CES/CMS cafeteria staff (part time) and Renee Doll - CES instructional assistant;

• Employment: Pamela Cook - CES/CMS cafeteria staff (part time); Paul Fagin - substitute bus driver; and Matthew Langdon - bus driver;

• Coaching:

- Resignation: Michael Nees - CHS assistant track coach;

- Hires: Chris Kaufman - fifth-eighth-grade head wrestling coach; John Cartmell - fifth-eighth-grade assistant wrestling coach; Jamie Steffy - eighth-grade girls’ basketball coach; and Matt Nichols - seventh-grade girls’ basketball coach;

- Volunteers: Jason Wilson, Brantson Scott, Chase Haltom, Kade Schroer, Jake Kelley and Corey Vickers - CHS volunteer assistant basketball coaches.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale School Board is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Middle School cafetorium.