Lanesville groups showcased at board meeting

Kaitlyn Clay, Staff Writer, [email protected]

The Lanesville Community School Corp. Board of Trustees was able to recognize and honor several of its students at its meeting last Tuesday evening.

Elementary school principal Jeff Smitley brought three groups before the board to have them talk about the ongoing year. Participants in the Little Eagle Run Club, the elementary Spell Bowl team and the fifth- and sixth-grade girls’ basketball teams were showcased.

The Little Eagles Run Club had between 75 and 80 students participate in the run club this year, and sponsors and coaches for the team said they were excited to see what is to come for the future of running sports at Lanesville.

The elementary Spell Bowl team shared it placed 27th in the state out of more than 100 schools.

Coaches of the fifth- and sixth-grade girls’ basketball teams said they were proud of the players’ growth through the season and the effort they have put in and will, hopefully, continue to put in during coming years.

During his remarks, Dr. Ryan Apple, principal of the junior-senior high school, told the board he was proud to announce that the school corporation had raised a little more than $7,000 for the ELF (Encouraging Lanesville Families) program, enough to sponsor 23 families. The students at the elementary school brought in 5,452 canned food items for the cause as well.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Lanesville community, we have been able to help so many families have a great Christmas,” Apple said. “I am so grateful, as is our entire corporation staff, to everyone who helped.”

The board unanimously approved hiring Jeff Cockerham as the baseball varsity assistant coach and Tyler Cockerham and Aaron Lockman as volunteers for the baseball team.

Cathy Steiner was approved as a part-time cafeteria worker.

Steve Morris, who will officially retire as superintendent of the school corporation at the end of the month, said, that while no one knows what will transpire in 2022 in terms of COVID-19, he believes the board has done all in its power to prepare staff and students by allowing principals or the superintendent to decide to mask up the building or a classroom at any point, without approval from a board meeting.

He also noted that all kids who attend school are now eligible to receive the vaccination or choose to wear a mask if they determine that is best.

After retiring, Morris said he plans to closely monitor various state government issues and intends to meet with legislators to fight for teachers and the school corporations. Numerous issues like making board seats partisan and requiring a more transparent-style of curriculum are just a few of the issues he plans to address in the coming year before votes are cast.

The school board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 5:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.