Cowan Community Schools

APRIL 16, 2026 BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Pledge of Allegiance

1. Adoption of Agenda

The agenda of the April 16, 2026, board meeting was approved as presented.

2. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the Regular Board meeting of April 2, 2026 were approved as presented.

100. Reports:  Superintendent – Mr. Chris Conley

1. School Update
2. CHS HVAV Contingency Funds released--This will allow us to have money to cover some of the summer projects.
3. Student Handbooks – First reading
   1. We are waiting on the “model language” from IDOE for the cell phone policy.  Mr. Conley stated he would like to adopt the IDOE wording.
   2. If we receive that language after we approve handbooks, we will distribute that information via our webpage and inserts into the student handbooks.
4. Monthly Finance Review—Mr. Conley presented the Monthly Financial review. He also stated our enrollment number is down to 734 students as of this evening. Mr. Conley stated for the 2026-27 school year he would like to see the enrollment number be at 739 for the year to break even financially.
5. Professional Leave Requests

500. 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.)

We had 3 student teachers at the meeting. They introduced themselves, stated what teacher they worked with this semester, what they liked about being at Cowan and what would be one thing they thought would help improve Cowan Schools.

Vivian O’Dell—She is student teaching with Mrs. Crabtree in Kindergarten. She is a Ball State student from Bern, IN. One thing she likes about Cowan is the small knit community.

Emma Johnson—She is a Cowan Alumni going to Ball State. She is student teaching in 2^nd grade with Mrs. Collins. She sees herself professionally in 10 years is to maybe obtain her doctorate in Elementary Education to teach at the college level.

Katie Olsen—She is student teaching with Mrs. Rhodes in Kindergarten. She is from Batesville, IN. She likes the small knit community that is at Cowan. The one thing she would improve at Cowan is to change recess time for kindergarten from the end of the day to the middle of the day.

5. Business Office Recommendations

1. Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Claim Docket

The claims #27078 to #27129 and the payroll of April 10, 2026 as listed in Appendix #2521 were approved for                    payment.    

2. Cowan High School Flooring

The Board accepted the quote from Keith Lambert’s Flooring for tile replacement at CHS, as presented. Funding for this project will come from the 2024 Construction Bonds.

6. Personnel

1. Certified Resignation

The Board accepted Dr. Amy Conrad’s resignation as High School English Teacher effective at the end of the       2025 – 2026 school year.

7. Extra-Curricular

1. The Board approved Carleen Baldwin as High School Cheerleading Head Coach.

8. Opportunity for Board Communication:

Mr. Wright stated that Mrs. Campbell accepted an award on behalf of Cowan at the most recent ISBA Spring Meeting.

Mrs. Campbell wanted to thank Dr. Conrad for her years of service at Cowan and stated she will be missed.

      I.  Adjournment

The April 16, 2026, regular board meeting was adjourned at 5:51 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Cowan Community School Board will be May 7, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office. 

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

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