A series of personnel changes have been made for the upcoming school year in Crawfordsville.
The Crawfordsville Community School Corp. board on Thursday accepted the resignation of middle school assistant principal Craig Callahan, who spent two years at the district.
Callahan, a former teacher at Zionsville Community Schools, is returning there to serve as their middle school’s assistant principal.
Tami Haas, the middle school’s student services coordinator, was approved to replace Callahan.
The board also accepted the resignation of Darrin Wilcoxson, the newly-promoted high school technology coordinator. Wilcoxson, who was a longtime teacher and robotics coach at Crawfordsville, has taken a position at Purdue University.
High school social studies teacher Sean Gerold was approved as Wilcoxson’s replacement.
The resignations of several teachers were also accepted including, Tim Herston, high school science; Megan Kaur, Hose Elementary music; Ian Line, high school math; Susan Belt, middle school science; Megan Harshbarger, temporary high school business; and Bobby Thompson, middle school science.
The board also accepted the resignation of Lauren Binford, school psychologist for the West Central Indiana Special Services Cooperative, which also serves North and South Montgomery schools.
Following the board’s vote, the contract of high school health careers teacher Jeremy Gerrish was canceled. Bowling said Gerrish’s license does not meet the new teaching requirements for the program.
Brandy Franklin, an administrative assistant at the high school and a licensed practical nurse, was approved to replace Gerrish.
The board approved the hirings of Darian Todd, Willson school nurse; Madison Smith, high school guidance counselor; Jonathon Tebbe, high school band director; and Alvin Enlow, Nicholson Elementary third grade teacher.
Employees moving positions for the upcoming school year, following the board’s approval, include Dave Cutchin to high school math from middle school math, Rebecca French to Nicholson second grade from Nicholson special education and Chelsea Wilkins to full-time Hose nurse from part-time middle school nurse.
In other personnel-related matters, Bowling announced the district plans to seek the board’s approval for employee stipends once the second installment of federal stimulus funding for schools is finalized.
Crawfordsville was allocated nearly $1.8 million in that round of funding.
The board also learned that discussions are underway to increase the starting pay for bus drivers to $22.50 from $20 per hour. A recommendation may come before the board in July.
In other business, the board received an update on the high school renovation project. Work on the related arts wing is underway and the district has money left over to repair the rest of the parking lot, assistant superintendent Dr. Rex Ryker said.
The high school’s bus loading zone will be moved to the back of the building to ease traffic congestion in the front parking lot, Ryker said. An additional sidewalk will be built to accommodate the new loading area, he said.
