The Crawfordsville Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees approved several agenda items during its regular meeting Thursday, following remarks from Superintendent Dr. Rex Ryker addressing the bomb threat at Crawfordsville High School earlier in the day.
Ryker thanked administrators, staff, students and emergency responders for their response during the evacuation and reunification process after the high school received a bomb threat Thursday morning.
Ultimately, nothing was found. Ryker said a student’s “irresponsible comments” led to a parent calling 911, which escalated the situation.
Ryker was proud of the response from staff and students, including the transportation department, which mobilized 14 buses to the high school within 27 minutes.
“We appreciate that students and a parent followed our call for all of our school community to say something, if they hear something, see something, or sense something,” Ryker said during the meeting.
Ryker praised the corporation safety team, school administrators, transportation staff, food service workers, maintenance crews, nurses and local law enforcement agencies for their role in the response. He also credited students and teachers for remaining calm throughout the evacuation.
According to an unofficial timeline shared by Ryker, the corporation was contacted by the school resource officer at 11:17 a.m. after dispatch received the report. Students were first evacuated to fire drill locations before being moved to the athletic complex and later transported to another location for reunification.
Ryker said all students and staff were accounted for by 12:43 p.m., and reunification messages were sent to parents at 12:48 p.m.
“This is why we drill and this is why we practice,” Ryker said. “I’m glad that it turned out to be for naught, but that’s what we want.”
Board members later approved all agenda items, including a request for the Crawfordsville High School Band drumline to travel to Klawock, Alaska, to perform in a Fourth of July parade from July 2-6. The trip was organized by band director John Tebbe after a band member’s father invited the group to perform.
The board also approved the 2026-27 CHS student handbook, which includes changes to attendance, cell phone and electronic device policies, athletic policies, honor roll eligibility and staffing information.
Members approved a renewal of the memorandum of understanding with the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation for the corporation’s anonymous reporting system, which will now also include the Athens Virtual Academy.
Additional approvals included public works projects involving parking lot work at all schools and a new fire pump at the high school, an annual resolution for scholarships and awards distribution, and a resolution transferring $1.5 million from the Education Fund to the Rainy Day Fund.
The board also approved several personnel items.
Retirements included Sandra Dickerson, CMS science teacher, and Carolyn Baer of WCISSC.
Resignations approved included Camaryn Peterson, Nicholson Elementary second grade teacher; Alec Moeller, CMS band director; Erika Ellis, Nicholson Elementary third grade teacher; Jennifer Sayler, Hose Elementary first grade teacher; Mercedes Wallace, Nicholson Elementary building substitute; Takeshi Greiner, CHS science teacher; and Whitney Cosgray, Hoover Elementary physical education teacher.
New hires approved included William Hiatt as CHS science teacher; Leina Helfers as CMS science teacher; and Laynah Bible as CHS assistant principal.
The board also acknowledged position changes for Kris Sims, moving from CHS assistant principal to CHS work-based learning coordinator, and Amy Cox, moving from Hoover administrative assistant to Central Office deputy treasurer.
