Schools

CHS baseball field being named for Froedge

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John Froedge coached Athenians baseball for nearly 40 seasons, and now the field where he groomed state champions will bear his name.

The Crawfordsville Community School Corp. board voted unanimously Thursday to name the high school’s baseball field for the Hall of Fame coach in recognition of his long tenure and record. The request came from board member Ellen Ball.

Froedge, who helmed the program from 1982-2020, led two state champion teams, 13 sectional champion teams and five regional champion teams. He was inducted into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.

In a statement, Froedge said he was “humbled beyond words” by the move.

“I am certain that God placed me at CHS many years ago and I simply tried to honor Him in through my teaching and coaching,” he said. “I was truly blessed to have had the opportunity to teach and coach at CHS for so long.”

Froedge added, “The nearly four decades of talented and dedicated players along with the many great assistant coaches are what made CHS baseball special. Because of the tremendous support received from the players’ families, school administrators and community, it’s the only place I ever wanted to coach. I hope going forward that the beautiful CHS baseball facility can continue to be a place where young men can be mentored while enjoying the great game of baseball.”

In financial matters, the board placed money in the rainy day fund to pay staff one-time extra duty stipends. Teachers, including those who retired last school year, and nurses received $3,000 for their work during the coronavirus pandemic. Former staff members who worked the entire year were given $1,500. The stipends were distributed Friday.

Federal coronavirus relief funding will replenish the rainy day fund over the next three years.

In other business:

• Superintendent Dr. Scott Bowling
reported about 80% of students who
participated in the district’s summer school program maintained or increased their reading levels.

• The board accepted the resignations of: Ethan Utterback, middle school English/language arts teacher; Amy Selby, director of special education for the West Central Indiana Special Services Cooperative; and Lori Ward, Nicholson Elementary second grade teacher.

• The board approved the hirings of: Courtney Crane, middle school English/language arts teacher; Wendy Schmitzer-Torbert, Hoover Elementary fifth grade teacher; Sydney Chaney, middle school English teacher; Meredith Boaz, Nicholson second grade teacher; and David Ande Warren, CTE program coordinator.


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