Crawfordsville Community School Corp. will soon provide an accredited virtual school for students.
Superintendent Dr. Rex Ryker made the announcement Thursday during the board of school trustees meeting at Willson Preschool Academy.
“Crawfordsville Community School Corporation has a vision to provide students to be responsible, productive citizens in a global society,” Ryker said. “Within our mission, we are called to support a variety of paths to academic success and lifelong learning and provide programs to overcome obstacles that interfere with learning. By adding an accredited virtual school to the school offerings of Crawfordsville Community School Corp., we can provide students with an alternative path toward an accredited Indiana high school diploma.”
Once approved by the state, the school corporation will open the Athens Virtual Academy of Indiana to serve students in grades seven through 12 It will open July 1 for a potential summer session and the first fall semester day will be Aug. 7.
Mark Melton is expected to serve as full-time principal of the virtual academy and become director of alternative services for the corporation. “He’s been excellent at finding ways to get kids across the stage,” Ryker said. “He brought some interesting tech ideas when he came, and this would be a perfect blending of some of his interests and skills.”
High school guidance counselor Sarah Newton will eventually transition to serving those students enrolled in the virtual academy.
Ryker added that he is optimistic that partnerships with area school districts will be forged. However, the virtual academy is open to anyone in the state.
The virtual academy will be seeking interested teachers to serve the anticipated 100 students.
Patron Scott Voliva asked how the virtual academy would impact the alternative school.
“For the student who can do the alternative programming fully virtual, then that person probably comes to this program,” Ryker said. “But we still have students who need the adult in the room and that is where the alternative school is still appropriate.”
Board president Steve McLaughlin expressed appreciation for the administration’s “forward thinking project and for the dedication to make education available to all students.”
In other business, the board:
• Reorganized for the year, electing McLaughlin to serve another term as president; Kathy Brown as vice president; Susan Albrecht as secretary and Monte Thompson as assistant secretary. Kent Minnette was appointed legislative liaison to the Indiana School Board Association.
• Adopted a service animal policy for public events.
• Gave Ryker authorization to sign agreements for alternative services and private residential school placements for students in need.
• Ratified the collective bargaining agreement with the Crawfordsville Education Association.
• Voted to allow for an eLearning day on April 8 in response to the anticipated solar eclipse. This is a change in previously announced plans. Preschool through fifth grade students will be given packets and students in grades sixth through 12 will have assignments delivered by Canvas or via packets if students do not have internet access. Teachers and administrators will be available by phone or email on that day.
Both North Montgomery and Southmont schools will have an eLearning day as well on April 8. Crawfordsville reversed its plans on the recommendation of local and state emergency management and INDOT.
• Gave Assistant Superintendent Dr. Brent Bokhart authorization to continue exploring the Clean Bus EPA grant for acquiring electric buses.
• Learned more than 200 letters were mailed to people with outstanding inactive lunch or curricular material balances. Payment is due Jan. 19 before the district submits the debts to a collection agency. The district is attempting to collect $80,000 in past due fees.
• Learned the state’s ILEARN testing is being updated and the district will opt in to the pilot program in 2024-25 so educators can use and become familiar with the new checkpoint assessments.
• Were advised that vape detectors will be installed at the middle and high schools early this semester. The added measure is made possible from the Safe Schools Grant and the JUUL settlement.
• Learned the district has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration to help provide childcare for staff.
In personnel matter, the board:
• Accepted the resignations of Kim Scanlon, CMS administrative assistant, and Taran Hatch, Nicholson life skills aide.
• Accepted the retirement of Ann Stanley, Hoover art teacher. Stanley is completing 32 years of teaching. She has been a strong elementary art teacher and advocate for essential arts in elementary school. She plans to pursue her love of art.
• Accepted the employment of Debbie Clapp, Hose media center assistant; Kiersten Schefke, CMS front office assistant; and Sarah Walden, Willson speech language pathologist.
• Learned of the change in position for Tara Roberts, from corporation ECA treasurer to payroll specialist; and Robert Roark from substitute to Hoover life skills aide.
The next board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at Hose Elementary School.
