Bernhardt looks for strong finish to school year

GREENCASTLE -- With the school year coming to an end, South Putnam Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt encouraged parents to continue working with their children at Monday's school board meeting.

"The last six weeks is just as important as the rest of the school year," he said during the school board meeting Monday night.

Activities will continue and the teachers will keep teaching, he said. "We want to cross the finish line running, not dragging our feet."

In a special meeting held April 5, school board member David Bombei, secretary Steve Cash and vice president Nancy Wells voted unanimously to not renew Angelletta Clark's teaching contract at the end of the school year.

Clark currently teaches first grade at Fillmore Elementary, but enrollment is down in next year's first grade class.

School board members heard good news from the technology director Steve Ricketts during Monday night's meeting. Ricketts told board members the new technology is being put to good use by the teachers.

"The teachers are very thankful," he said.

Reelsville Elementary has been using its new computer lab more -- to the point lab days have been bumped from two days per week to five. The smart boards are also a hit with teachers.

"It has become a useful tool for them," Ricketts said.

In other business:

* Board president Michael Rissler encouraged the community to "be aware of education decision in Indianapolis. They want to take it out of the hands of local patrons."

* School board members gave approval for Reelsville Elementary to dispose of surplus items, such as an analog TV, old tape recorders and a laser disk player.

* The school corporation will purchase a 2009 Chevrolet special purpose activity bus at a cost of $39,021 from Kerlin Bus Sales in Silver Lake. Bernhardt said full-size buses will be purchased in June or July.

* Central Elementary fourth graders were approved for a trip to Bradford Woods April 21 through 23; the fifth and sixth graders at Central will be going to St. Louis for a one-day trip on April 30; Elaine Bye and the girls' cross country team will be camping Aug. 2 through 5 at McCormick's Creek State Park in Spencer; and Kristen Scott will take the FCCLA students to the national competition July 4 through 8 in Chicago.

* Board members voted to accept the personnel report, which included Nancy Ashcraft resigning as part-time food service at Fillmore; and Carl Coons, Allan Rains and Phil Williams to teach summer driver's education.