By HOLLY GASKILL
Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District is continuing the celebration of high school history teacher Tara Cocanower.
On Oct. 5, Cocanower was announced as the Indiana Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year. Next, she will interview to be considered at the national level.
During this week’s BHMSD board meeting, Superintendent Brad Yates announced the school corporation soon planned to update the school’s billboard to feature Cocanower.
“I want to keep saying I didn’t win anything — I simply am afforded an opportunity,” Cocanower said. “I’m given the honor to represent the amazing teachers I get to work with, the amazing teachers that I have, and all of them throughout the state of Indiana. So that is what I intend to do over the next year. I look forward to it.”
Cocanower will also be featured on the next episode of the “Roar Report,” BHMSD’s new podcast covering local issues and events.
The episode will also include information on the role of a school board member with board president Julie Andrews, election changes with district attorney Colin Andrews, UnitedWay’s upcoming campaign with Executive Director Pamela Beckford and the implementation of ParentSquare with BHMSD communications specialist Jessica Bricker.
Yates said the newest episode of “Roar Report” was released Wednesday and is available for free on Spotify.
In other updates, Assistant Superintendant Julie Meitzler told the board the district is in the process of surveying perspectives on grading and learning. The survey currently has a 100 percent response from school staff, 92 percent from students in grades four and up and 9 percent from parents.
Additionally, upon the recommendation of Childcare Director Jaci Moser, the board approved amending the childcare handbook to state that childcare services are available only to students enrolled at BHMSD.
Previously, the program was available to all students from kindergarten to sixth grade regardless of enrollment. The service is available for before and after-school childcare, as well as seasonal breaks.
The change will take effect in January 2023.
Yates said the change will affect only a few students. He added that they believe this will allow them to best serve the students in the program.
German teacher Nick Miller also asked the board for approval of a summer study abroad trip for German students during either 2024 or 2025. He also asked the board for permission to connect with other district German teachers to see if they would be interested in joining the trip. The board unanimously approved both requests.
Bruce Holland noted that traveling in high school was a life-defining moment for him, and he hoped all the students were able to experience it. Thompson, whose son previously went on the trip, echoed the same sentiment.
“I think this is worth every cent,” Holland said.
The 12-day trip will travel through four countries, making an effort to experience art, history and culture in each area. The school will partner with WorldStrides. The price will cover airfare, hotels, insurance, guides and experiences, and two meals daily.
Other updates were:
• Yates notified the board of a statewide “Indiana Learns” program from the IDOE that would provide qualifying families with up to $1,000 toward English and math tutoring for fourth and fifth-grade students. Yates said he was working to figure out the best way to implement this into the schools for the best benefit of students, teachers and tutors and would continue to update them.
• The board accepted resignations from Kristan Trout, high school cheer sponsor, and Sarah Moser, high school cheer assistant. They also approved the employment recommendations for multiple substitute teachers, childcare employees, volunteers and a special education bus aid, as well as the intent to employ a high school cheer sponsor, cheer assistant and English Language Learners instructional assistant.
• Several policies were amended in part of the board’s ongoing review of its existing policies. Policies regarding board negotiating agents, student achievements, vocational education and programs for handicapped students/least restrictive environment were accepted on their second reading; Policies regarding educational surrogate parents, personal technology, Title I parent involvement and student publications were accepted on their first reading.
holly@news-banner.com
