Cloverdale School Board approves employment contracts, financial report

CLOVERDALE — Conducting a less-than-half-an-hour meeting with various items on its agenda, the Cloverdale School Board approved employment contracts as well as a annual financial snapshot Monday evening.

The board first approved two agreements for coordinators in transportation and food service. Supt. Greg Linton noted that these agreements were identical to ones approved last year.

The board also approved employment agreements for school bus drivers returning for the upcoming school year. Linton said the contract guarantees them 181 work days of pay, with one day being for training.

Linton also provided an annual financial report, which is essentially a snapshot of the school corporation’s finances as required by state law for review.

Noting that there were a few parts where expenditures were higher than expected, the school corporation’s revenue was higher overall. Linton attributed this to Cloverdale Schools’ partnership with Tech Trep, an online platform for STEM-based learning for kindergarten through eighth grade.

“All in all, the bottom line is that the budget’s in good shape,” Linton assured before the board approved the report.

In other business:

• The board heard comments from students who participated in the recent two-week Snails to Trails program. They outlined the trips they took to destinations including a wolf park, a cave and a musical at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.

• The board approved an addendum to Linton’s contract. A hearing on the addendum was held at the board’s meeting last month.

• The board approved for a bus aide position for a particular route whose bus is considered full. Linton said this person was only to better ensure students’ safety and conduct on the bus.

• The board approved an addendum to Cloverdale Schools’ memorandum of understanding with the Town of Cloverdale for a student resource officer covering its three school buildings. Linton noted that the cost between the school corporation and the town will remain flat. James Collings is the current officer.

• The board approved an amendment to the school corporation’s contract with Pepsi. Linton said that soft drink companies are now putting caveats into agreements with regard to contributions made when product is not being sold. Linton said the request was fair.

• The board accepted an amended plan with regard to food service bids from the West Indy Co-op which were approved in May. Linton said that the co-op’s board had approved the changes.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignations: Kenneth Schnepp - CHS Spanish instructor (retirement); Chris Kaufman - agriculture/FFA instructor; Tiffany Shields - CHS nurse; and Katie Bonnoront - fifth-grade teacher; Patrick Rady - boys’ varsity basketball coach; and Tom Winders - volunteer varsity assistant football coach;

• Employment: Kenneth Schnepp - CHS Spanish instructor (re-hired as a retired teacher after 30 days’ separation and unable to find a replacement); Heidi Worthington - CMS art teacher; Debra Warfel - choir/music teacher; Kenzie Pigg - CMS agriculture/FFA instructor; Lesley Spatta - CHS social studies teacher; Heather Clingan - CHS agriculture/FFA instructor; Virginia Lotz - from substitute bus driver to full-time bus driver; Rebecca Willis - executive secretary; Michael Glassburn and Brantson Scott - seventh-grade boys’ basketball coaches; and Andrew Howard - varsity assistant football coach.

Administrative Assistant Sara Zaring joined Linton and the entire board for the meeting, with Duane Huge watching via Zoom.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale School Board is set for Monday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Office near Cloverdale High School.