Health insurance back at forefront for North Putnam

BAINBRDGE--During the November North Putnam School Board meeting an old subject was brought back to light.

Several months ago the school board decided to reinstate non-certified employees back to 35 hours after originally cutting hours in May. The hours were cut due to the Affordable Health Care Act that has been put into effect. Business or corporations, like North Putnam, who employ more than 50 employees must offer health benefits to all employees who work more than 30 hours a week.

North Putnam originally decided to cut the hours of employees due to the high cost of offering them insurance. After a push back on this part of the law in congress, the North Putnam board decided to restore employees' hours. Now the board must decide to cut non-certified employees hours again.

"This is not going away," board member Jill Summerlot said. "We need to have a serious discussion about the drop-dead date."

The school corporation would need to cut hours or face monetary penalties from the government. Another option would be to offer insurance to those employees.

School board Vice President Oliver Haste was curious about what the liability would be if the corporation were to not cut the hours of employees or is health insurance could be offered.

"We can't offer insurance because of closed enrollment with the trust," Tanya Pearson, treasurer of the North Putnam Community Schools Corporation, told board members. "It's not open 'til October 2014."

A decision on this ongoing issue must be made in the December meeting or the corporation could be facing fines.

The board was also updated on several building projects in the works around the corporation.

The Bainbridge Elementary roofing project is nearing completion. Originally the rood was to be completed in August, but due to materials being needed and several other conditions the project is two months behind.

Several small things need to be completed, including the finishing of the roof over the freezer for the school. To attach the roof on that part of the school, temperatures of 40 degrees or more are needed.

School board member Jim Bowling expressed his distaste that the project has taken so long to complete.

Project manager from OMS was unable to give a specific date on when the project would be completed.

In other renovation news, the board approved the additions to the construction plans at Roachdale Elementary, including new flooring in bathrooms, replacement of doors to several entrances and painting several areas around the school.

Along with improving the school structures, the corporation continues to try and improve what is being taught to those inside the buildings.

The school improvement plans for each school was approved at the meeting. The plans take data from the state and allow the schools to see were improvement might be needed.

Another ongoing project has been school handbooks. These handbooks would originally be given out at the beginning of a new school year but the school board has been going over the new ones for several months to make sure that they do not conflict with laws or board policy.

At the end of the meeting Haste asked for an amendment for board policy and give Noel permission to approve fundraising, donations and grants for the schools and just inform the board about them. School board attorney Gene Hostetter will look to see if that is allowable by law.

In other business:

-- Jim Hess was hired as middle school eighth-grade boys' basketball coach.

-- Jennifer Porter resigned as the middle school assistant cheerleading coach.

-- Bus driver Myron Hacker was approved for retirement.

-- Kenny Bottoms was terminated as a bus driver.

-- It was reported that the redistricting for North Putnam has not been approved yet due to state issues.