The Crawfordsville Community School Corporation celebrated the official opening of its newly constructed administration building Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony held just prior to the board of school trustees meeting.
District administrators, board members, staff, project partners, and representatives from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce gathered at the new 6,200-square-foot facility at 3 Athenian Drive, located adjacent to Crawfordsville High School’s athletic parking lot. The building provides centralized office space for key district operations including the superintendent, assistant superintendent, curriculum director, food service director, accounting and payroll staff, corporation treasurer, and receptionist. It also includes a lobby, board room, large conference room, kitchenette and storage areas.
“This building is part of the past vision of our leaders, and from here, future leaders will continue to lead Crawfordsville Community School Corporation to provide great schools where students ‘enter to learn, to go forth to serve,’” said Superintendent Rex Ryker. “From this site, boards and administration will cast the vision, plan the mission, and carry out the commission to provide our community’s students and students from all over the state with a foundation for a successful future as responsible, productive citizens in a global society.”
Ryker acknowledged the contributions of both current and former board members, including former Superintendent Dr. Scott Bowling and current Board President Steve McLaughlin, as well as project collaborators CSO Architects, Baker Tilley, Ice Miller, and contractor Kettelhut Construction. The $3.8 million project broke ground in April 2024.
McLaughlin, who had the initial vision for the building in 2020, praised the board’s persistence and the staff’s support throughout the multi-year process.
“With the completion of this project, Crawfordsville schools will have created a space that will house the administrators and staff who work every day to provide our students with the tools they need to achieve great success,” McLaughlin said. “This building will provide a good place for teachers to collaborate and plan for great things in the classroom for generations of students now and in the future.”
The board convened its monthly meeting in the newly completed board room following the ceremony, where it approved several key items including:
• Policy 4420: Law Enforcement Relations, which formalizes the district’s relationship with law enforcement while ensuring alignment with applicable state and federal regulations.
• A revision to the 2025–26 school calendar was approved, moving the professional development day from Oct. 10 to Oct. 3 to accommodate the city’s International Parade and prevent disruption to bus routes.
• Renewal of Chartwells as the district’s food service management company, as recommended by Food Services Director Amber Reed.
• Renewed RT Insurance as the property and casualty insurance broker.
• The annual resolution for scholarships and awards was approved, allowing the business office to send scholarship funds directly to recipients’ schools.
• A transfer of $850,000 from the Education Fund to the Rainy Day Fund was authorized.
• A new K–5 reading curriculum adoption, selecting Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) for grades K–3 and Open Court Reading for grades 4–5.
In personnel matters, the board approved the retirements of Brian Miller, AVA Electives & CHS Alternative Teacher; Stephanie Totheroh, CHS Family & Consumer Science Teacher; and Kathy Tobias, CARA Director.
The board also accepted the resignations of: Christina Jeffers, CHS English teacher; Chase Justus, CTE Work-Based Learning Coordinator; Elizabeth (Perkl) Ehrendreich, SLP WCISSC; Mary Ann Conley, CMS teacher’s assistant; Brett Abramczyk, CTE Construction Trades instructor; Amy Carrington, CMS Student Services Coordinator; Molly King, CMS Special Education teacher; and Ariadna Eufrasio, Nicholson EL assistant.
The board approved the employment of Lindsey Raines, preschool aide at Hose Elementary; Michele Jett, administrative assistant at Willson; and Kaitlynn Stout, teacher’s aide at Hose Elementary
The board recognized Megan Wilson, moving from administrative assistant at Willson to administrative assistant for Athenian Virtual Academy.
