MARCH 7, 2024 BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Pledge of Allegiance
Adoption of Agenda
The agenda of the March 7, 2024 board meeting was approved as presented.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Regular Board meeting of February 15, 2024 were approved as presented.
Reports: Superintendent – Mr. Timothy Brown
1. Members of the Cowan Bowling Team were present at the meeting and were honored for their outstanding season. All team members present spoke individually about the season and were presented with a certificate from the Board.
2. Members of the Cowan Wrestling Team were present at the meeting and were honored for their outstanding season. All team members present spoke individually about the season and were presented with a certificate from the Board.
3. Mr. Brown thanked all our student athletes and coaches for a great winter season as it wrapped up last weekend. Mr. Brown thanked the 3rd grade teachers and administrators for their work in administering the IREAD-3 exam this week. 2nd grade students will be taking the exam next week. The district held the pre-bid hearing for interested Food Service Management Companies today (3/7). Bids will be opened on March 18th at 1:00pm. Mr. Brown and Mr. Andrews are working with I&M to update the parking lot lights to LED.
4. Mr. Brent Adams, Jr/Sr High School Principal, provided an update for the Board. He discussed the upcoming Washington, D.C. trip, the updated front entrance, I-Ready progress and goals, and potential graduation ceremony changes. The Board discussed the proposed graduation adjustments and agreed to move forward with them.
5. The Delaware County Health department has asked us to partner with them with a MOU to serve as a Point of Distribution during a Public Health Emergency. Mr. Brown reviewed this with the Board. A motion for approval is later in the agenda.
6. Mr. Brown provided a detailed summary of future project considerations, funding, and long-term planning. The Board reviewed the addition of a potential new sidewalk from 600S to the elementary school as well widening the apron of the exit from Olive Street for our buses and firetrucks. The Board also reviewed future project considerations that included updating roofs, parking lots, HVAC systems, restrooms, culinary arts room, and overall technology infrastructure. The Board will continue to plan for the necessary updates in the district.
7. Cowan is the recipient of a Capacity Building Grant from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education with the leadership and support of the Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce. This will result in being able to utilize a career coach in our building over the next 15 months to support the future goals and aspirations of our students. Additionally, Cowan has worked with Project Leadership and the East Central Indiana Service Center to apply for a Career Coaching Grant to further support these initiatives, K-12. Under the leadership of Mrs. Herndon, Cowan has also applied for a Digital Learning Grant that would potentially add new technology tools to both buildings to enhance and support the curriculum.
8. Kindergarten Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year will take place on April 10th. New kindergarten families should contact the elementary school to register.
9. The first Board meeting in April will be Wednesday, April 3rd instead of Thursday, April 4th.
10. Professional leave requests approved by the Superintendent as of Tuesday, March 5, 2024, were presented.
Opportunity for Public Comments
(No negative comments toward Corporation employees are permitted during the public meeting. Alleged misconduct by a Corporation employee is to be addressed in an Executive session of the Board following meeting with appropriate members of the Administration.)
Andrew Fisher, Zoey Vadakin, and Rylan Butterfield were in attendance for the P.I.G. (Participation in Government) class project with Mr. Groves’ government class.
Business Office Recommendations
Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Claim Docket
The claims #23973 to #24050 and the payrolls of February 16 and March 1, 2024, as listed in Appendix #2346 were approved for payment.
Donation
The Board approved the donations to the school lunch program and our industrial technology department as listed in Appendix #2347.
Personnel
Resignation
The Board approved the resignation of Brandie Wilber as an Elementary Custodian.
Employment
The Board approved Chloe Morris as an Elementary Custodian.
The Board approved Mistima Bacon as a Corporation Bus Driver.
The Board approved up to 20 hours of remediation for our 3rd grade students in preparation for the IREAD-3 exam.
Volunteer
The Board approved Jacob Clark as Varsity Girls Softball Volunteer.
Field Trips
The Board approved a field trip for the band and choir to King’s Island on Saturday, May 18, 2024.
The Board approved a field trip for all interested seniors to King’s Island on Friday, April 26, 2024.
The Board approved a 6th grade field trip to Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, PA on October 23-26, 2024.
Point of Distribution MOU
A motion was made to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Cowan Community Schools and the Delaware County Health Department for Cowan to serve as a point of distribution during a Public Health Emergency.
Opportunity for Board Communication:
Mr. Paul Hansard thanked Mr. Brown for all the time spent planning for future facility updates.
Mr. Alan Wright thanked the coaches for both team in attendance and all the coaches that work at Cowan. He appreciates all the time they spend with our student-athletes.
Adjournment
The March 7, 2024 regular board meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
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