EMCOR updates Cloverdale board on school renovations

CLOVERDALE -- More than two years after building improvements at Cloverdale Community Schools were first being considered, they are continuing to come to fruition with more planning.

The Cloverdale School Board heard a presentation by Kevin Livingston of EMCOR Construction Services Midwest Monday evening about what progress has been made, as well as what is still to be done.

EMCOR, which has directed improvements at other school districts including North Daviess Community Schools and Greensburg Community Schools, came to Cloverdale in 2018 and gave an overview of potential changes.

The overall project will include HVAC upgrades at both Cloverdale High School and Cloverdale Middle School. It will also include new carpet and restroom remodels in the halls and classrooms at the high school. Cloverdale Elementary School is also set for electrical updates.

Specifically at the high school, the bathrooms will be renovated to allow for better ventilation. Its domestic water heater system is also set to be replaced by two smaller high-efficiency water heaters.

On the whole, Livingston said EMCOR was looking to approach the improvements at both the elementary and middle school holistically, meaning as one unit. In essence, becoming more energy efficient is the main goal of the project.

Up to now, EMCOR has performed virtual site visits and drawings, as well as preliminary scope discussions with administrators. Both EMCOR and administration have also made rough estimates on material pricing.

EMCOR and Cloverdale administrators will continue to finalize the scope and budget of the project, all of which will be dictated through a guaranteed savings contract. Livingston provided that a “50 percent review” had been done, meaning that more work is to be done.

In other business:

• The board approved a COVID-19 learning plan presented by Cloverdale’s curriculum director Cathy Ames. The plan is available on the Cloverdale Schools main website in “Stages of Learning Plan.”

• The board approved an agreement with Tech Trep, an online platform that will provide students in K-8 with STEM-based learning.

The board also recognized Cloverdale’s Students of the Month:

• Cloverdale Elementary School - Oliver Gilliam

• Cloverdale Middle School - Dustin Peck

• Cloverdale High School - Glenn Thompson

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignation: Marsena Johnston and Pamela Cook - CES/CMS cafeteria;

• FMLA: Al Jonte - CMS custodian;

• Volunteer: Kyle Walter - CHS volunteer assistant/scrimmage coach.

Before the meeting was adjourned, Board President Vivian Whitaker announced that Board member JaceAnn Troutt had resigned from the board due to personal reasons. She presented a plaque recognizing her service to the board.

Troutt was elected to the board in 2016 to represent Jackson Township in Owen County. She had no opponent in the recent election and therefore had earned an additional term.

Troutt was the only board member who did not attend Monday’s meeting. Board member Duane Huge was not physically present, but joined in via Zoom.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale School Board is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Middle School cafetorium.