Freshmen students at Crawfordsville High School will soon be able to add an Advanced Placement option to their schedule.
On Thursday, school board trustees learned the high school administration team has been working to provide an AP sequence that begins with AP World History.
“We are lucky to have students and staff that can handle this rigor and opportunity,” said Superintendent Dr. Rex Ryker. “We have had students attend Wabash College for Calculus II; however, in the past, if you were not on this path when you entered CMS, it was not possible.”
Ryker said administrators and the guidance office have created two options for students to begin as freshmen to reach that level of course offering.
“Few community schools our size or with our socioeconomic status offer these academic opportunities,” Ryker said.
The board also learned that three science teachers were recently recognized with awards from the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers. Jenny Veatch received the Clyde Motts Award for Outstanding High School Science Teachering; Shannon Hudson received the Edward L. Frazier Service Award; and Jaron Kaminski received an Academic All-Star Certificate of Merit and was nominated for the honor by CHS senior Whitman Horton.
In other personnel matters, the board learned of retirement notices for Ellen Rooze, a third grade teacher at Nicholson who is finishing her 28th year with the corporation; Kristy Reese, Hoover physical education teacher with 40 years of service to CCSC; Lissa Fairfield, a third grade teacher at Nicholson who is finishing her 12th year with the district (10 as a teacher); and Connie Lafoe, a custodian at Nicholson who is finishing her 18th year with the district.
The board also learned of the resignations of Emily Murphy, Hoover secretary, and Andria Grady, a middle school floater substitute.
The board approved the employment of Takeshi Greiner, as a CHS science teacher. Greiner is a Wabash College senior. He will begin observing in the classroom twice a week and after spring break will begin working toward teaching lessons.
CHS assistant principal Mark Melton was approved as the principal of the newly created Athens Virtual Academy, and Kris Sims was approved as Melton’s replacement at CHS. Both changes are contingent upon the Indiana Department of Education giving final approval on the district’s plan to offer AVA. The state has already given its blessing for the district to begin advertising and enrolling students.
Board members also gave their approval for the district to apply for a Digital Learning Grant with the IDOE in the amount of $49,300 to purchase hardware and software for devices to be used by CHS and AVA students.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the 2025-26 school calendar that sets the first student day as Aug. 6, 2025; fall break from Oct. 20-24, 2025; Thanksgiving break Nov. 26-28, 2025; winter break Dec. 22, 2025 to Jan. 6, 2026; spring break March 23-27, 2026; last student day May 22, 2026; and graduation May 29, 2026. A minor change was made to the calendar that would allow for elementary students to be dismissed from school an hour early on parent/teacher conference day in October.
• Learned a ground breaking ceremony for the new administration building will be at noon April 3.
• Approved the annual eighth grade field trip to Springfield, Illinois, for Oct. 26.
• Approved a field trip request to allow students from the National Art Honor Society to visit a museum and other landmarks in Chicago on May 4.
• Approved a request to change the May board meeting to 5:30 p.m. May 7 at Nicholson Elementary School.
