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Board News

 

MAY 7, 2026 BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

Pledge of Allegiance

 

  1. Adoption of Agenda

The agenda of the May 7, 2026, board meeting was approved as presented.

 

  1. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the Regular Board meeting of April 16, 2026 were approved as presented.

 

 

  1. Reports – Superintendent: Chris Conley
    1. School Update—We will not receive iLearn scores from this spring until September due to the new standards. Ava Gregory received the Storer Scholarship. 
    2. CHS Danco updates—Radius metal is up and touch-ups are complete. The cosmetic repairs of the holes in the roof of the gym are being fixed. In the elementary 3-4 grade wing, the electrical switch gear is being updated from 1975. This means our phones and internet will be nonfunctional for approximately a week or so while they are doing the new update.
    3. Student Handbooks – Second reading
      1. We are still waiting on the “model language” from IDOE for the cell phone policy.  If the wording from IDOE is not available be the time we need to move forward with our handbooks, Mr. Conley stated he is already working with other schools in our district on wording they may be using for this policy.
      2. We will distribute that information via our webpage and inserts into the student handbooks.
    4. Professional Leave Requests
    5. Kiwanis Junior Awards Banquet Attendees—On April 22nd, Mr. Adams and Mrs. Andrews took 6 Juniors to be honored by the Kiwanis at their Awards Banquet. Congratulations to Deagan Altic, Savannah Bowling, Aubrey Corn, Isabella Dickey, Ian Huffman and Raylynn Keihn.
    6. Teacher Appreciation Week. This week is Teacher Appreciation week. The administrators in each building are doing a great job celebrating them.  Mr. Conley stated we appreciate all the teachers and staff every day for what they do daily for all of our students.
    7. Hunter Collins—Mr. Conley stated that he would like to thank everyone who helped with the situation that occurred during Cowan’s home baseball game on April 25. Thank you to: Coach Wells & Mr. Groves for their timely manner in getting the AED; Officer Arens for responding from home; Amanda Hager & Heather McDaniel, nurses from the opposing team, for assisting and administering CPR. Thank you to Mr. Adams and Officer Arens for meeting a rep from the AED company in Gas City to borrow a cable in order to download the AED information that was needed from hospital staff in order to assist with Hunter’s treatment. Thank you to the Cowan Fire Department for arriving quickly. Thank you to the whole community who helped or have reached out.

 

  1. 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.)

Nick Beaty, 2005 Alum and Cowan parent, presented the interest of starting an afterschool martial-arts program at Cowan.

Isaac Campbell attended the meeting for Mr. Groves’ class, and the board asked him several questions. Isaac has attended Cowan for grades K-12. His future plans are to attend Manchester College and major in Finance. He likes the tight-knit community and that everyone is friendly. The one thing he would change about Cowan is to get rid of AR. The teachers who have been the most influential are Dr. Conrad, Mr. Groves and Mr. Hanser.

 

  1. Business Office Recommendations
  1. Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Claim Docket

The claims #27130 to #27213 and the payrolls of April 24, 2026 and May 1, 2026 (TAG), as listed in Appendix #2522 were approved for payment.    

 

  1. Cowan Elementary School Cleaning Services Contract

The Board accepted the quote from City Wide Facility Solutions for evening custodial services at CES, as presented.

 

  1. Amendment to Renew Reimbursable Plus Fix Fee Food Service Management Contract

The Board approved the updated food management contract with Chartwells, as presented in Appendix #2523.

 

  1. Surplus Items

The Board approved the items submitted by Mr. Atkinson be declared surplus, as presented.

 

  1. Donations

The Board accepted the various donations for Cowan Elementary School, as listed in attached Appendices #2524.

 

  1. Student Handbooks
  1. The Board approved the changes to the Junior/Senior High School Handbook for the 2026 - 2027 school year as listed in Appendix #2525.
  2. The Board approved the changes to the Elementary School Handbook for the 2026 - 2027 school year as listed in Appendix #2526.

 

  1. Personnel
  1. Certified Resignation

The Board accepted Margaret Stein’s resignation as Elementary Teacher

effective at the end of the 2025 – 2026 school year, as presented

 

  1. Classified Resignation

The Board accepted Jennifer Carrier’s resignation as Corporation Treasurer,

effective June 12, 2026, as presented.

 

  1. Extra-Curricular

Resignations

  1. The Board accepted Carleen Baldwin’s resignation as Junior High Cheer Coach effective at the end of the 2025 – 2026 school year, as presented
  2. The Board accepted Courtney Diercks’ resignation as Junior Varsity Girls Basketball Coach effective at the end of the 2025 – 2026 school year, as presented

 

            Appointments

  1. The Board approved Laura DuBois as Junior High Cheer Coach for the 2026 – 2027 school year, as presented.
  2. The Board approved Jessalyn Mahan as Varsity Assistant Girls (C-Team) Basketball Coach for the 2026 – 2027 school year, as presented.
  3. The Board approved Ashlyn Craig as Junior Varsity Head Girls Basketball Coach for the 2026 – 2027 school year, as presented.
  4. The Board approved the Fall Coaching Recommendations, submitted by Mr. Schuck, for the 2026 – 2027 school year, as presented in Appendix #2527.

 

  1. Opportunity for Board Communication:

Mr. Brooks stated he was very thankful for everyone who helped Hunter Collins during his medical situation.

Mrs. Campbell wanted to thank all the teachers and staff not only during teacher appreciation week but every day.

Mr. Jones stated he was glad everyone was there to help with Hunter. He also was pleased that we were prepared for a medical situation.

 

  1. Adjournment

The May 7, 2026, regular board meeting was adjourned at 5:59 p.m.

 

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Cowan Community School Board will be May 20, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office. 

 

 

 

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

Highlights for April 16, 2026

Highlights for January 8, 2026

Highlights for December 18, 2025

Highlights for December 4, 2025

Highlights for November 20, 2025

Highlights for November 6, 2025