'O7 budget passes at N. Putnam

Saturday, September 9, 2006

North Putnam School Board made quick work of its budget hearing during its special meeting on Thursday.

Board members Debbie Sillery, Jon Buser, Charlie Boller, Mark Fordice, and Carl Blau, along with President Dale McGaughey and Supt. Murray Pride met to hear public comments on the proposed 2007 budget, the capital projects fund, and the bus replacement plan. But no public was available for comment.

McGaughey asked Pride how the corporation was doing on bus drivers. Pride said, "We are less than appropriate."

The corporation's bus driver numbers are low, and it doing everything it can to sustain the routes. Pride said that the corporation ran advertisements in the paper for bus drivers, and it did have seven people apply. "We're trying now to schedule training classes for them," said Pride.

To accommodate the low numbers, the corporation has asked several retired bus drivers to come back. Pride said, "We're keeping every route covered right now."

Pride asked the board to approve to resolution of interest to purchase land south of the middle/high school complex. The board had been informed that the land was for sale. McGaughey later told the BannerGraphic that the board wanted to take the next steps especially if the land goes up for redevelopment.

The board reiterated that they are just looking at the land. The resolution was approved by a vote of 5 to 1.

The board also approved the resignation of the following non-certified staff: bus drivers Jim Spencer and Lori Shearer, and the hiring of the following non-certified staff: high school instructional assistant Erin Lawson.

The board's regularly scheduled meeting has been moved to Monday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. in the corporation building. During this meeting, the board will vote to adopt the 2007 proposed budget. This meeting is open to the public.

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