South Putnam board names Schnepp new athletic director

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The South Putnam School Board officially hired its new athletic director Monday evening following the reassignment of Matt Griswold.

Griswold decided to transfer positions to become a full-time science teacher in the 2013-14 school year. The board made the decision to hire Ken Schnepp to take his place.

Schnepp comes to South Putnam High School from the Brownsburg School Corporation. He was previously the part-time assistant principal at the elementary school as well as a department head for the school corperation's world languages program.

"He's coached a lot of different things and has experience doing all that," said Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt. "He comes very highly recommended by the folks over there."

The board decided to hire Schnepp with a two-year contract.

Among the other business discussed, the board agreed to purchase several technology items to replace two English labs in the high school.

Following the recommendation of Steve Ricketts of Five Star Technology the board agreed to purchase 62 Samsung Chromebook's, desks for the two rooms and SMART boards.

The board approved the state bid from Promevo for the new computers along with two charging carts for $22,733.38. They also approved a bid from Spectrum Industries for the desks at a total of $16,022.07 and a bid for the SMART boards at a total of $10,126.08.

"We are replacing the outdated and nonfunctioning computer systems," said Bernhardt. "That has all become ancient."

Steve tested and approved the purchase before it came before the board. It was also noted that the Wayne Township School Corporation is also installing the Chromebook's in their schools.

All funds will come from the technology fund. The purchase of new technology and computers is done annually as the corporation cycles through its computers.

After month's of preperation for the gym wall repair project, work has finally started.

Bernhardt informed the board that the workers have moved into the gym and working on the inside walls doing all the preliminary work.

"It's been a long process," said Bernhardt. "We're just now seeing some work in there."

The corporation also received the contract for the exterior skin. That work is expected to begin within the next coming weeks.

Among other personnel issues the board approved the resignations of Matthew Edwards as the high school science teacher and girls' and boys' swim coordinator; the resignation of National Honor Society co-advisor Theresa Doud; the resignation of assistant softball coach Lindsey Blackman; the resignation varsity boys' and girls' golf coach Brian McClure; the resignation of Elaine Bye as the assistant cross country coach and assistant girls' track coach; the retirement of Central Elementary teacher Betty McGill; and the hiring of high school social studies teacher Brady Rhodes.

In other business:

* The board approved the high school student handbooks, which is done yearly.

* The board declared a table saw at the high school to be surplus. The corporation will try to get whatever money they can for it.

* It was agreed that the corporation will advertise for petroleum bids. Although done yearly, the board decided last year to stay in the open market and purchase as needed. It is expected they may do that this year as well.

* The board approved the sign agreements for Old National Trail. Bernhardt once again will have permission to sign agreements with special agencies for placements.

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