Willson Preschool will now be known as Willson Preschool Academy.
On Thursday, trustees for the Crawfordsville Community School Corp. voted unanimously to change the name of the school that serves approximately 118 students.
The name change is part of the district’s efforts to expand educational services.
“We are excited to offer the community a five-day, full-day preschool this fall,” Superintendent Dr. Rex Ryker said.
Board members and school staff expressed gratitude for keeping Willson in the name. The school’s namesake, Anna Willson, was a Crawfordsville principal and later a superintendent more than 100 years ago when few women were rising through the ranks of schools. She is credited with founding the local Sunshine Society, overseeing the construction of a new school for the black students among other projects. She left the education field shortly before her death in 1923 at the age of 54.
Ryker also reported that the preschool has been approved for a level 3 Path to Quality rating, which makes the district eligible for On My Way Pre-K Vouchers for four- and five-year-olds. The preschool is currently eligible for vouchers for three-year-olds.
“The preschool has been a large investment for our corporation, and by the end of the next semester, it should be financially stable,” Ryker said.
The district recently matched a grant from the Montgomery County Community Foundation for $52,503 to purchase and install new carpet, furniture and learning materials for the four community preschool classrooms. Installation is expected over winter break.
In personnel matters, the board accepted the resignations of Christina Eldrenkamp, CMS life skills teacher; Sendy Torres, Nicholson teacher’s aide; and Rebekah Mason, Nicholson special education.
The board approved the employment of Debbie Brading, CMS life skills teacher; Lisa Kidd, CHS teacher’s assistant; Hayden Stevens, CMS physical education teacher; Madison Dossett, CMS front office secretary; Grant Bailey, CCSC speech therapist (fall 2024); Javon Callison, CHS math teacher (fall 2024); Sara Stout, Hose life skills assistant; and Taran Hatch, Nicholson life skills aide.
Board members also learned of the change of position for Renae Tebbe (Bronnenberg) from CHS receptionist to CHS administrative assistant; Emily Fullenwider from CMS guidance/assistant athletic director to CHS administrative assistant; and Emily Daley from CMS administrative assistant to CMS guidance/assistant athletic director.
In other business, the board:
• Recognized the CHS Academic letter sponsors and recipients and the CHS wrestling team.
• Approved the CMS and CHS choir trip for Music in the Parks at Kings Island on May 10-11, 2024.
• Discussed on first reading a policy for service animals at public events. The policy outlines the definition of a service animal, admission of service animals, questions administrators can follow up with an owner, owner responsibilities and permissible exclusions.
• Adopted a substitute handbook that outlines requirements, pay, absence process and overall responsibilities and expectations of both the
substitute and the school.
• Approved a resolution allowing administrators to transfer up to $2 million from the Rainy Day Fund to the Operations Fund.
• Learned the district will create an institute that helps prepare and support new teachers coming into the field for their first two years in the classroom.
• Learned Hoover fourth grade math and reading scores will be used in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (Nation’s Report Card). Testing is slated for Feb. 22.
• Learned Luke Brinkerhoff recently passed his final test for certification as a master bus technician.
• Learned seven high school staff members, Jay Strickland, Madison Smith, Jenny Veatch, Kelli Bowling, Colleen Fuller and Jared Kaminski attended the Indiana Association of Gifted Teachers conference in Indianapolis. They were able to witness Hoover Elementary teacher Shelly Drake earn the association’s Hazel Feldhausen Outstanding Teacher of the Gifted award.
The board’s next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Willson Preschool Academy, 500 E. Jefferson St.
