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CCSC board salutes outgoing Huge, Hinton Monday
CLOVERDALE — The Cloverdale School Board bade farewell to two of its own as it concluded the last meeting for Arvel Hinton and Duane Huge Monday evening.
Doing so with “sadness and joy,” Board President Vivian Whitaker presented plaques denoting their four-and-a-half years and 11-and-a-half years of service on the board, respectively.
Hinton, also known as “Boo,” came onto the board in July 2018 to replace Daniel Hofmann as its Jennings Township representative. Meanwhile, Huge was elected to the board in 2011 for its seat representing Taylor Township in Owen County.
Noting that he does not “say very much,” Hinton hearkened back to running for the board in 2014. Though defeated by Hofmann then, he professed “common sense” when he was approached to fill his seat.
“I’m glad that I was a part of this,” Hinton said, in suggesting how the board has worked together despite disagreements. “There’re a lot of people out there who have no idea of what goes on right here.”
As a longtime educator who has worn many hats in a long career, Huge noted that his motivation for running for the board was to have his input as a parent. He pointed to the board’s teamwork as the reason he has stayed on.
“Cloverdale’s a special place; you all know it,” Huge said, a highlight for him being approving Greg Linton as superintendent in 2014. “I wouldn’t have stayed on the board if I didn’t enjoy it.”
Linton synthesized their comments down to the success of the district being largely dependent on the attitude and trust of an administration. Included in this, he said, is that the board gets along.
“We haven’t always agreed,” Linton said. “But we get there, and I do appreciate the time that you put in on the board. There is a lot of sacrifice that goes into this. A lot of people don’t realize that.”
Emily Haltom will take over from Huge next month, while the board is figuring how to find Hinton’s replacement. No candidate filed for his seat in the recent election.
In other business:
• The board approved accepting a $2,000 Patty Packs grant awarded from the Putnam County Community Foundation. The grant will support providing weekend snacks for eligible students at Cloverdale Elementary School.
• Being a regular action, the board approved the school corporation’s in-person instruction plan. Linton reminded that the approval was required as Cloverdale Schools utilizes Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant funding. The plan is unchanged from last year’s approval.
• The board approved hiring a special education school bus assistant for a morning route. Linton noted that a current bus driver would provide the service.
• The board approved the school corporation’s yearly teacher appreciation grant (TAG) policy and awards. A portion of the awards also goes toward teachers at Area 30 Career Center and Old National Trail Special Services.
Teachers who are rated Effective or Highly Effective, based on student performance on state tests, will receive a stipend of $958.16 and $1,197.70, respectively. Linton also requested that the stipends be applied to administrators out of the Rainy Day Fund.
The board also recognized Cloverdale Schools’ Students of the Month in Olive Kyle (Cloverdale Elementary School), Carson Tyler (Cloverdale Middle School) and Bronson Burk (Cloverdale High School).
The board in turn recognized Teachers of the Month with Beth Williams (Cloverdale Elementary School), Jaralee Branigan (Cloverdale Middle School) and Daniel Varnes (Cloverdale High School).
The board also approved the following personnel report:
• Employment: Ivy Oberkrom - Knoy Resource Center teacher; and Andy Tyler - Edmentum project coordinator;
• Coaching volunteers: Chase Haltom, Kade Schroer, Eric Kukman and Brady Koosman - CHS boys’ basketball; and Christian Frye and Wayne Rubek - CHS girls’ basketball; and
• Coaching hires: Cody Lindsey - CMS head wrestling coach; Autumn Lewellen - eighth-grade girls’ basketball coach; and Ken Schnepp - CHS girls’ track coach.
The entire board was present for the meeting along with Linton, Whitaker, Huge and Hinton.
The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale School Board is set for Monday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Office near Cloverdale High School.