September 2021 School Board Meeting Information

To: Students, Parents, Staff, and School – Community Members; Media
Fr: Kevin Smith, Superintendent
Re: September 2021 School Board Meeting Information

The Covington Community School Corporation School Board met for their regular monthly meeting on Monday, September 13, 2021.

The meeting opened with the 2022 Operating Budget Public Hearing. During this time school corporation superintendent Kevin Smith reviewed the Capital Projects Plan, Bus Replacement Plan, and proposed budget. With no public comment received the board adjourned the public hearing and moved to their regularly scheduled business meeting.

Mr. Dale White, Executive Director of the Western Indiana Community Foundation, presented the CCSC school board with a check in the amount of $50,000, with monies to be used within the three educational facilities, as well as the athletic department. Mr. White noted that the foundation board wanted to help the school recover from lost revenue during the 2020 – 2021 school year due to the COVID – 19 pandemic.

Covington Community School Corporation board president, Doug Hunter, thanked the foundation for their support, “It is awesome that we have this level of support within our community.”

The board approved modifications to the school reentry plan, adopting a positivity rate threshold of 3.0% as the baseline for the implementation of mask wearing in an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Masking would be implemented anytime a respective facility has a sustained positivity level of 3% for a period of three consecutive days. The protocol would be in place for a period of 14 days and be removed if the facility sustains positivity rates
below 3% for the final three days of the period.

Note: If the need for mask wearing occurs the guidance calls for all individuals – students, staff, and visitors – of a respective facility to properly wear a mask during transitions in and out of the building, classrooms, for ECA events, and any other time social distancing may not be possible, such as during a group instructional activity. This aligns with the 2020 – 2021 school year guidance for the use of masks.

Superintendent Smith noted that the board appreciated the input and views offered by school – community stakeholders during the most recent spike in COVID-19 cases. “The board reviewed the input received very carefully and conducted a methodical due diligence in reaching this point with our protocol,” Smith stated. “We will be monitoring the data, as well as the benefits experienced, and if necessary continue to adjust the protocol in an effort to ensure the safety, health, well – being, and educational development of our children.”

During the business portion of the agenda the board:
• Approved the following hires:
o Cindie Holliday, CES Instructor
o Tammy Pearman, CES Transfer to Library Coordinator
o Ryan Ellmore, Volunteer Football Coach
o Travis Brown, MS Athletic Director
o Evan Morgan, Weight Room Supervisor
o Travis Brown, Weight Room Supervisor
o Trevor Dickerson, 1/2 Weight Room Supervisor
o Shane Orlea, 1/.2 Weight Room Supervisor
o Kyle Hartzog, K – 12 Band/Chorus 9 – 12
o Leslie Sebastian, Drama Club
o Damon Hegg, Senior Play/Dual Credit Instructor
o Craig Sowers, Lighting/Sound Technician/HS
o Yearbook/Dual Credit Instructor
o Dawn Krepton, MS Yearbook
o Carolyn Davis, Senior Class Sponsor
o Eric Stockberger, Senior Class Sponsor/French Club
o Stephanie Hohenstein, Junior Class Sponsor
o Shelby Pineda, Junior Class Sponsor
o Kelly Taylor, Sophomore Class Sponsor
o Kara Taylor, Sophomore Class Sponsor
o Jordan Rennick, Freshman Class Sponsor
o Becky Holycross, Freshman Class Sponsor
o Lindsey Reed, Art Club/HS Student Council
o Leslie Sebastian, HS NHS
o Katie Hardy, MS NHS
o Sarah Martin, MS Student Council
o Scott Myers, FFA/Dual Credit Instructor
o Marlissa Brewer, MS Science Fair
o Laura Myers, Testing Coordinator
o Katie Hardy, Testing Coordinator/Teacher Mentor
o Hannah Hegg, Champions Together
o Terry Field, FCA/Dual Credit Instructor
o Susan Smaltz, Crazies Sponsor
o Craig Sowers, School Community Promotions
o Corey Smaltz, Dual Credit Instructor
o Chad Tanner, Dual Credit Instructor
o Dallas Peffley, Dual Credit Instructor
o John Kiger, MS Football Coach
o Brian Wright, MS Volunteer Football Coach

• Accepted the following retirements:
o Pete Nickel, CHS Instructor, effective June 30, 2022
o Cathy Smith, CCSC Payroll and Human Resources Coordinator, September 30, 2021

• Approved the contracting of school psychologist Dr. Abbie Jones, as an employee of the Wabash River Special Services Cooperative.

• Approved a maternity leave request for Jordan Rennick.

• Approved a recommendation from the building principals for the acceptance of 11 out – of – district student transfers.

• Approved the acceptance of a $50,000 donation from the Western Indiana Community Foundation and a $5,000 from a school – community stakeholder wishing anonymity.

• Approved a resolution allowing the superintendent to request approval for additional debt service fund appropriations.

• Accepted and approved a proposal from McGowan Insurance Group as the new provider of property and casualty insurance for the school corporation.

• Received information on the current level of student enrollment within the school corporation.

The next scheduled meeting of the board will be October 11, 2021.

Thank you for your support of our children and of the Covington School – Community.

Kevin R. Smith
Superintendent