SR school thankful for grants
South Ripley Superintendent Rob Moorhead informed the Board of Trustees that the school has received several grants. They received $60,000 from the Tyson Fund to support the high school baseball field renovation project. Another $40,000 has been set aside for next year’s grant cycle from the Tyson Fund for the project.
They also received a grant for $25,000 from Duke Energy for the baseball field renovation project.
Other grants include $66,600 from Indiana Department of Homeland Security for the 2025-26 grant year through the Secured School Safety Grant Program, $1,500 from the Ripley County Community Foundation to support the high school food pantry and a grant that will pay for new curriculum and software updates from Senator David C. Ford Educational Technology Program Grant. The school received this grant by being selected as one of the 40 recipients of the 2025-2026 Robokind Grant.
At the September 22 meeting Principal Ryan Lauber, along with Assistant Principal Kris Wood, gave a presentation on the outstanding IREAD and ILEARN results. They noted this is the second year in a row that the fourth-grade students received the highest math passing percentage in the state. Junior High Principal Melanie Evans gave a presentation on the junior high ILEARN results with the students consistently scoring above the state average and the highest ranking in the county.
Personnel:
Brook Sides was approved to fill the vacant eighth grade science position. Ashley Landwehr transferred from her aide position at the junior high to a junior high special education classroom coordinator for the Intensive Academic Classroom. The position was created to replace a resignation. Landwehr was also approved to fill the ECA position of Champions in the Middle sponsor for the 2025-26 school year.
Mark Quicksall was approved to fill the junior high special education paraprofessional position that was vacated by Landwehr. He was also approved to fill the Varsity Bowling coaching position for the 2025-26 school year.
Kendyl Whittington was approved as a South Ripley temporary “as needed” bus aide.
Ashley Swinney was approved to fill the Varsity Softball coaching position. Michaela Diem and Heather Saylor were approved to serve in the ECA assignments of Junior Class sponsors for the 2025-26 school year.
Field Trips:
The Board approved the request for the high school cross country team to participate in the Louisville Classic in Kentucky. The JAG students were approved to attend a tour at North American Stainless in Kentucky. Jessica Lovell was approved to chaperone the FFA Officers on an overnight field trip. Lovell was also approved to chaperone students to the State Livestock Skillathon at Purdue University.
Other Business:
Approval was given for the school to enter a lease agreement with the Switzerland County YMCA for the use of South Ripley’s 2025-26 swimming program. The recommendation to accept the quote and enter a contract with Sprinturf for the installation of the synthetic turf surface on the baseball infield was approved.
The Board heard that Madison Consolidated Schools has requested re-entry into the Southeastern Career Center. Approval from all school boards that participate in SCC will have to be given.
Attending the Work Session, Executive Session, Budget Hearing and regular meeting were Andy Comer, Amy Miller, Justin Sturgeon, Brittany Bradley, Rachel Lawhorn, Kim Jolly and Thomas Welch, along with Supt. Moorhead.
Editor’s Note: Information for the above story was taken from unofficial minutes from the September 22 meeting.
