Cowan Community Schools

 

JANUARY 8, 2026 BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Pledge of Allegiance

1. Annual Reorganization of the Board of School Trustees for the 2026 Calendar Year

1. President

The Board elected Kimberlie Campbell to serve as President of the Board of School Trustees for the 2026 calendar year. 

2. Vice President

The Board elected (Charles) Rick Jones to serve as Vice President of the Board of School Trustees for the 2026 calendar year. 

3. Secretary

The Board elected James Brooks to serve as Secretary of the Board of School Trustees for the 2026 calendar year.

4. Appointment of Treasurer

The Board appointed Jennifer Carrier to serve as Treasurer of the Cowan Community School Corporation for the 2026 calendar year.

5. Appointment of Deputy Treasurer

The Board appointed Sheryl Marshall to serve as Deputy Treasurer of the Cowan Community School Corporation for the 2026 calendar year.

6. Board Meeting Dates & Time

The Board established the first and third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. as being the meeting days and time for the regular meetings of the Board of School Trustees during the 2026 calendar year. As previously approved, January’s dates are an exception to this schedule.

7. Designation of Newspaper for Advertising

The Board designated the Muncie Star Press as the print media representative in which the school corporation’s legal advertising will be published during the 2026 calendar year.

8. Indiana School Boards Association Legislative Liaison

The Board appointed Jim Brooks to serve as the ISBA Legislative Liaison during the 2026 calendar year.

9. School Board Compensation

The Board adopted the recommendation for School Board compensation as presented in Appendix #2500.

2. Mend the Agenda

The Board amended agenda of the January 8, 2026 board meeting was approved as presented.

100. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the Regular Board meeting of December 18, 2025 were approved as presented.

500. Reports:

Superintendent – Mr. Christopher Conley

1. School Update:  Enrollment numbers has only dropped 1 student since count day. The elementary has gained a few students since we returned from winter break.
2. January 22^nd Board of Finance to meet at 5:30pm with regular School Board Meeting to follow.
3. NEOLA Updates, Volume 38, number 1—This will need to be approved later in this meeting.
4. ISBA Statehouse Day—February 17, 2026
5. Make up day from school closure will be on February 16, 2026.
6. Professional Leave Requests
7. Mr. Conley concluded by stating that Southern Wells is holding meetings seeking to join the MEC conference for 2028-2029 season. Elwood had declined the invitation at this time. He also advised the board members that we will need to start replacing Chromebooks and at this time we will need to purchase 10-15 Chromebooks. We will start with upgrading Chromebooks for grades 5^th and 9^th possibly starting in next school year.

5. Opportunity for Public Comments

(No negative comments toward Corporation employees are permitted during the public meeting.  Alleged misconduct by a Corporation employee is to be addressed in an Executive session of the Board following meeting with appropriate members of the Administration.)

            None

6. NEOLA Policies

The Board approved the NEOLA updates, Volume 38, Number 1, as presented, as per Appendix #2501.

7. Business Office Recommendations

1. Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Claim Docket

The claims #26706 to #26761 and the payrolls of December 19, 2025, and January 2, 2026 as listed in Appendix #2502 were approved for payment.    

2. Acceptance of Conflict-of-Interest Statements

The Board accepted the Conflict-of-Interest Statements as submitted in Appendices #2503.

3. Resolution for Recurring Transfers

The Board adopted the Resolution for Recurring Transfers from the Education Fund to the Operations Fund for the calendar year of 2026, as submitted in Appendix #2504.

4. Approval of Insurance Coverage through ESCRFT

The Board approved the insurance coverage from ESCRFT in all areas listed in Appendix #2505, as presented.

5. Donation

The Board accepted a donation from Coops Lawn and Landscape for the Blackhawk Pantry, as presented.

8. Personnel

1. Resignation

The Board accepted Shelby Groves’ resignation as Director of Technology effective January 9, 2026, as presented.

2. Technology Repair Coordinator

The Board approved Dennis Beaver as Technology Repair Coordinator, effective January 12, 2026, as presented.

1. Extra-Curricular Positions

1. The Board approved the list of returning Spring Coaches as submitted by Athletic Director Mike Shuck, as presented in Appendix #2506.
2. The Board approved Tyler Reynolds as a Volunteer Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach for the 2025 – 2026 school year, as presented.
3. The Board approved Alyssa Reynolds as a Volunteer Assistant Track and Field Coach for the 2025 – 2026 school year, as presented.
4. The Board approved Jared Carter as a 5/6 Grade Girls Basketball Coach for the 2025 – 2026 school year, as presented.
5. The Board approved the list of Academic Coaches as submitted by Principal Brent Adams, as presented in Appendix #2507.

Opportunity for Board Communication:

Mr. Wright would like to thank Ms. Groves for all of her time here at Cowan and wish her the best in her new adventure.

Adjournment

The January 8, 2026, regular board meeting was adjourned at 5:48 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Cowan Community School Board will be January 22, 2026 at 5:30p.m. at the Central Office.

 

 

 

 

Choose the meeting below to view previous meetings in a new window.

Highlights for December 18, 2025

Highlights for December 4, 2025

Highlights for November 20, 2025

Highlights for November 6, 2025