Members of the Crawfordsville Community School Corporation Board of Trustees met Thursday, approving several items, including grants for the Crawfordsville Adult Resource Academy, increases to preschool and childcare fees and approval of a choir field trip.
The board approved two grant applications presented by Meredith Boaz, director of the Crawfordsville Adult Resource Academy. The first is a $10,000 Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant aimed at improving the high school equivalency diploma program through the purchase of a web-based learning platform and supporting materials.
Boaz told board members the academy has identified a significant gap in its programming.
“I came across something that is a real gap in what we are doing at CARA. Our time to completion for high school equivalency diplomas is significantly longer than other programs in our region,” Boaz said. “Our time to completion is a lot slower. We’re taking almost twice as long in the number of weeks that our students are completing high school equivalency diplomas.”
Boaz said CARA does not currently offer a digital or app based pathway for adult learners pursuing diplomas. This grant will allow for the purchasing of a web-based program.
The program would include printed materials, onboarding, teacher support and professional development. “We’re missing that pathway and it’s really important, especially in today’s society, in a world that’s a global society that counts on digital literacy.”
The board also approved a $1,000 Indiana Literacy Association grant to pilot an additional online platform for entry level English Language Learners. Boaz said while CARA currently uses Burlington English, and says data shows a gap in measurable skills gains among level one students. She said the grant would allow the academy to test a new platform with one lower level class and assess whether broader implementation is needed.
The board also approved childcare and preschool fees for the 2026-27 school year. Superintendent Dr. Rex Ryker said with childcare vouchers being frozen and no new vouchers being issued, there has been a loss of more than $200,000 in preschool and childcare funding.
Childcare fees for staff will increase to 75% of the regular cost, previously it was 50%.
Ryker said even with the increase it won’t bridge the gap.
“It’s an investment, even at this amount, but I do believe that it’s a benefit that we provide our staff that we would like to continue to provide. Raising this brings the cost down some,” Ryker said.
Preschool rates will also increase next school year.
The board approved a field trip for the Crawfordsville High School choir. Choir Director Jennie Swick requested permission for students to travel to Kings Island on May 9 to compete and perform during Music in the Parks. Because the trip falls on a Saturday, students will not miss school.
In other business, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with Purdue Extension for the Mollie B. Hoover Elementary School after school program, Chef University.
The board also approved a capital project for improvements to the Crawfordsville High School auditorium. The project will upgrade and improve the facility, with DeLong Rigging Solutions selected as the vendor at a cost of $150,805.
The 2026-27 Transportation Handbook was approved with minor changes clarifying policies on violence and how long bus drivers will wait at bus stops for students. The Athens Virtual Academy Student Handbook for 2026-27 was also approved.
Board members approved the 2027-28 school calendar, amending the snow day policy to add three e-learning days after four snow days. Once those e-learning days are used, additional days will be added to the calendar to make up for further cancellations. Revised calendars for 2025-26 and 2026-27 were also approved. The 2025-26 revision adds three e-learning days in the event of another snow day, while the 2026-27 revision mirrors the newly approved snow day policy.
In personnel matters, the board accepted the resignation of Ashley Fisher, Crawfordsville High School essential skills assistant; Deneen Bartlett, Hoover Elementary aide and 21st Century Program director; and Mackenzie Kimberling, Willson Preschool Academy aide.
Retirements were approved for Linda Ross, corporation accounts payable; Shelle Wheeler, Hose teacher; Rhonda Bacon, Hoover teacher; and Stacy Guard, Crawfordsville Middle School science teacher.
The board also approved the hiring of Alexis Fenimore as a Crawfordsville High School teacher’s assistant.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m.
